Boys track takes third at Elks Invitational

Despite a brutal wind, the Fallon track teams were a success at the 42 annual Fallon-Elks Invitational on Saturday at the Edward Arciniega Complex.

The boys took third with 87 points behind champion McQueen (128) and Douglas (93).

The Lady Wave, meanwhile, finished fifth with 47 behind Douglas (139), McQueen (106), Spring Creek (99) and Yerington (58).

“Considering the weather, we did OK,” Fallon coach Steve Heck said. “The wind caused problems, but it caused problems for everybody.”

The meet featured 17 boys teams and 16 girls clubs ranging from Division I through DIV. Douglas was a last-minute addition to the roster, as the Tigers were slated to compete in California, but weather impeded the trek over the Sierra Mountains.

In addition to the deep talent pool, more than 70 volunteers were on hand to work the meet.

“We had a glitch at the beginning. We had a power failure that caused about a half-hour delay,” Heck said. “We had a lot of volunteers come who hadn’t done this before, which was nice. Overall, we had a good response on how it was run.”

Boys sprinter Jake Ernst had a solid outing taking fourth in the 100-meter race (11.67 seconds), while Charles Fulks nabbed a pair of sixth-place finishes in the 200 (25.58) and 400 (55.50).

“Charles had a great day and is really coming on in the 400,” Heck said.

The mid-distance duo of Tristen Thomson (2:09.67) and Nathan Schank (2:12.00) placed fourth and seventh, respectively, in the 800.

Nathan Heck, meanwhile, put his hurdle skills on display winning the 110 (15.79) and taking fourth in the 300 (45.33). Heck also took second in the pole vault with a height of 13 feet, 6 inches. Jordan Schultz added a seventh-place finish in the 300 (46.44).

“Anytime you can win an event in a meet like this is kind of a big deal,” Steve Heck said of Nathan Heck. “He tied his PR (personal record) in the pole vault.”

Beau Marshall was solid in the field as the senior took second in the long (20-4) jump and third in the triple (40-6.5) jump.

Justin Hatfield was fourth in the shot put (46-5) and T.J. Mauga was seventh in the discus (129-10).

For the girls, Elena Murray and Patricia Leggett were in top form for the Lady Wave.

Murray won the 100 hurdles (16.82), took fifth in the triple jump (30-11) and sixth in the long jump (14-5) despite battling a foot injury.

Leggett, meanwhile, was third in the long jump (15-3.25) and fourth in the 400 (1:03.13).

“Elena has a sore foot and hasn’t been able to train a lot,” Fallon girls coach Paul Orong said.

Leggett and Murray also teamed with Mikayla Harris and Sydney Pauley placed third with a time of 4:34.67.

Emily Coleman (33-0) and Leann Stands (31-11.75) took fifth and seventh, respectively, in the shot put.

“That is big for us with Coleman and Stands,” Orong said. “We really need help in the throws and they are doing really well. Stands is going to be an incredible athlete for us.”

The Lady Wave, overall, is a young squad consisting mostly of freshmen and sophomores. Those athletes also competed at Galena’s frosh/soph meet on Friday, where Fallon placed third.

“We did better than I expected,” Orong said of the Fallon-Elks meet. “We are excited because we are seeing some improvement and they are fitting the spots.”