REGION TRACK: High jump key as Mojave squeaks by Chaparral for I-A boys title

Both of Saturday’s Division I-A track regionals came down to the final event.

And in the boys meet, the high jump turned into high drama.

Entering the high jump, Chaparral led the meet with 87 points, with host Sunrise Mountain (84) and Mojave (79) right behind.

Mojave’s Jalon Dean won the event with a mark of 6 feet, 3 inches, and teammate DeRoderick Kilgore jumped 5-10 to tie for fourth. That was enough for the Rattlers to edge Chaparral, 93½-93. Sunrise Mountain finished with 87.

It was redemption for Dean, one of the top hurdlers in Southern Nevada. He won the 300-meter hurdles on Friday and was expected to win the 110 hurdles Saturday. But he was disqualified for a false start, and it looked like Mojave’s chances of winning the regional went with it.

But Dean also is a high jumper, and his win helped seal the victory for the Rattlers.

Chaparral thrower William Hernandez won the discus Saturday (154-11) to go along with his win on Friday in the shot put.

“Good conditions to throw today, the right amount of wind,” Hernandez said. “It was not as good as I had hoped, but I’m happy with the win.”

But it wasn’t enough to win the meet for the Cowboys.

Desert Pines’ Abdirahman Mohamad came from behind to overtake teammate Shi-Quan Nettingham in the 1,600 with a time of 4:42.6. Mohamad also won the 800 (1:59.5).

“I stayed back until I had 300 meters to go,” said Mohamad of the 1,600. “I had lots of energy; I was able to kick it in from there.”

Faith Lutheran’s Mark Rubalcaba followed up his triple jump win on Friday with a victory in the long jump (22-2½).

Faith Lutheran’s girls entered Day 2 with a 22-point lead over Pahrump Valley. By the time the final event of the day came up, that lead was down to 4.

The Crusaders won the 1,600 relay in 3:59.29 to finish with 160 points. Pahrump finished with 152.

“On paper we were supposed to win by 30,” Faith Lutheran coach Rick Baird said. “(Pahrump) made it close. We had a few problems, but a lot of girls came through for us.”

Faith Lutheran’s Clarissa Maxey, who won the 200 on Friday, ran 12.16 in the 100 on Saturday as she nipped Jasper Gray of Cheyenne (12.45), winner of the 400 on Friday.

Pahrump’s Amanda Head, winner of the discus on Friday, won the shot put (36-8). Teammate Sydney Sladek followed up her win in the 1,600 by leading from the gun and cruising in the 800 (2:20.05).

“I felt good today,” Sladek said. “But I had to work for it. I was surprised to win the 1,600 (on Friday). My first love is soccer; I run to stay in shape.”

Laughlin’s Anthony Escarzaga won the 1,600 Saturday (4:59.55) after winning the 3,200 on Friday to help the Cougars hold on for the Division III boys team title.

Laughlin had 146 points to edge The Meadows (137).

Calvary Chapel’s Cameron Murphy won the 200 (22.61) and 400 (49.55) on Saturday.

Spring Mountain’s Devauntae Scroggins won the 400 (54.77) after finishing second in the 800 on Friday to lead the Golden Eagles to victory in the Division IV meet with 210 points. Beatty was second with 133½.

White Pine’s girls pulled out an easy win in the Division III meet with 213 points, pulling away from second-place The Meadows (144½).

And Beatty’s girls dominated the Division IV meet, scoring 314 points to finish 195 points ahead of second-place Lund.