SPARKS — After the Centennial boys mounted the podium with their Class 5A state championship team trophy, head coach Dorian Williams put his hands on his knees, hunched over and let out a few tears.
In his first year in charge of the program, Centennial swept the team Class 5A state titles at the Nevada State Track and Field Meet at Hug High School.
The girls won their 12th title in 13 years while the boys secured their first state title since 2017.
“They always thought I am going to win it, from Day 1. … They (the boys) were up all night last night thinking ‘we’re going to do this,’ and they did,” Williams said. “This is emotional moment for me because it’s been a long ride for not just our team, but our entire community.”
Both teams dominated the state meet.
The Centennial girls finished with 113 points, besting second place Galena (82) while the Bulldog boys finished with 96 points ahead of the second-place Grizzlies (73).
In the girls long jump, senior Synai Davis hadn’t competed until regionals with a hamstring injury.
Her first flight into the sand pit, Davis recorded a mark of 18 feet, six inches, which was good enough to win the state title.
“We told her all you need is one jump and she literally jumped it on her first one,” said Williams.
Davis received her medal on the podium propped up by crutches after re-injuring the hamstring trying to further her distance.
It encapsulated the heart of the team.
“They’ve been working hard. They have really been at it since Aug. 25,” Williams said of the Bulldog girls. “The ones who were injured really raised those kids up and today was a result of that.”
Centennial senior Kingston Lueck took home the top spot in the boys 3,200.
Deross Fields took second in the 300-meter hurdles.
The Bulldog boys relay teams won the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×800.
The girls won almost swept the relays, winning the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×800 while taking second in the 4×400.
“We are one team and we had one goal. Every one of those young ladies contributed,” Williams said. “The expectation is there without us having to say anything.”
Individual champs
Bishop Gorman’s Bre’lynn Johnson won the girls 5A 100-meter title by 0.003 seconds, but took second in the 200 by 0.001.
Gorman’s Azavier Mekhi McDaniel won the state title in the 100-meter dash and the long jump.
Liberty’s Dannon Martin claimed the title in the 400 and 800 meters.
Desert Oasis’ Mykal Arnold won the discus title.
Shadow Ridge’s Luke Juden won the boys pole vault.
Coronado’s Noah Steenkamp took the title in the triple jump while Jiselle Dudley won the girls 300-meter hurdles.
Faith Lutheran’s Aliyah Maese won the girls high jump title.
Arbor View’s Nneka Ebonka won the shot put and Legacy’s Aniyah Burress took the girls crown in the triple jump.
