Carson High track: Senators’ 1600 relay team has eyes on the prize

Asa Carter, Ian Van Rensselaer, Brandon Basa and Hector Gomez-Barrios made the most of their first time together as a relay team.

The Carson quartet posted the fastest qualifying time in last week’s 1600-meter relay trial with a 3:26.55, and hope to improve on that mark at Saturday’s regional final at the Jim Frank Track & Field Complex.

It’s an interesting group.

Basa (52.69) and Gomez-Barrios (51.38) run individual 400s regularly, while neither Carter and Van Rensselaer have a reported individual 400-meter time this season. Carter specializes in the long and triple jump, and he’s run the 300 hurdles. Van Rensselaer is solid in the 800, 1600 and 3200.

Basa, better known for his exploits on the wrestling mat, is the newcomer to the quartet, though he has run the event before. He has replaced Johnny Barahona.

The Senators currently rank fourth in the state behind McQueen (3:18.73), Centennial (3:22.24) and Rancho (3:26.49).

The top three in each event advance to the state meet on May 20-21 at Carson, and the Senators believe they have a good chance of moving on.

Despite the newness of the group, Carson coach Robert Maw believes his group can run under 3:25.

“I think each runner can shave .30 off their time,” Maw said. “Like most runners, you run faster if you’re chasing somebody. Ian is such a strong runner. I think he has the best chance to trim a lot of time. We want Asa to run third and keep us in it. I’m excited to see what happens.

“Our handoffs (last week) were not what we wanted. We worked on that Wednesday and Tuesday. Our exchanges have to be a little better. Another thing is having competition in front of us.”

Carter agreed.

“We’ve been working really hard a lot lately,” said Carter. “You don’t want to have to slow down (on the exchange). You have to be able to get the baton and get going.”

A key to success may be on the last two legs with Carter and Van Rensselaer. The latter embraces the role of running the pressure-packed anchor leg.

“I like it (running anchor), always have,” said the Carson senior, who also will be in the 800 and 1600 on Saturday. “Everybody is cheering you on. It’s not easy.

“All of us run around 51. If somebody goes under 50 that would be insane.”

Carson’s 800-meter relay team of Basa, Greg Wallace, Caulin Bartley and Carter advanced with a 1:31.78. The group will need to shave two seconds off their time to get into the third spot.

Exchanges are the key, according to Maw.

“If any of the exchanges (are off), any team from fifth on down has a chance,” Maw said. “My first year as head coach we dropped the baton on the third exchange and missed winning state by a point in the girls competition.”

Carson’s girls qualified in the 400, 800 and 1600 relay events, but at first glance it would appear the 1600 group of Abigail Cowan, Athena Favero, Blanca Sosa and Abby Pradere have the best opportunity to reach state even though the group ran 4:19.28.

“I think that group has a great shot to get through,” Maw said. “Cowan has been running between 66 and 68, and we need her to get down to 62 or 63. Blanca ran 68 last week, and I know she is capable of more. Athena was hobbling last week, so we’ll be keeping an eye on her.”

Favero didn’t qualify in the 100 hurdles last week, so running one less race might help her.

Cowan, Katelyn Morse, Erica Basa and Abby Paulson ran both the 400 (8th, 54.56) and 800 relays (5th, 1:56.14). They are five seconds off the Damonte’s third-place finish last week in the 800 relay and three seconds off Manogue’s third-place time in the 400. All four runners are either freshmen or sophomores.

“They are young,” Maw said. “This is a good experience for them.”