Locals qualify for nationals

Carson City runners Nathaniel Williams and Blanca Sosa both qualified for the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic National Championships at the Region 14 finals held on Sunday in Folsom, Calif.
Another Carson City runner, Erika Sosa, just missed qualifying for nationals. The Region 14 event pitted the top 25 runners from Northern California and Northern Nevada in their regional meet against the top 25 runners from Central California. The top 20 runners advanced to the national meet to be held December 13 in Richmond, Va.
In the youth boys division, Williams, a freshman at Douglas County’s Sierra Lutheran High, took fifth, covering the 4,000 meters in 13 minutes, 37 seconds. Williams ran an outstanding race, leading the event at one point.
Blanca Sosa, a Seeliger Elementary third grader, finished 13th in bantam girls, covering 3,000 meters in 14:17. In youth girls, Erika Sosa, a Carson High freshman, took 24th, covering 4,000 meters in 17:16.
Erika Sosa lowered her time from 17:21 that she ran at the regional meet and all three runners improved on their time from the regional event.