Senators compete at Don Gilbert Invite

A trio of Carson high athletes, Amy Sanchez, Caitlin Prunty and Shanna Sparks, dominated the girls running events at the Don Gilbert Track and Field Invitational on Friday at Rancho Cordova High.

The three athletes combined to score 60 points for the Senators as they captured firsts in a total of six events.

Sanchez swept the hurdle events, taking the 100-meter race in 15.43 and the 300-meter event in 47.86. Both times were personal records for the senior, who usually concentrates on the short sprints.

"If she's going to run like that in the hurdle races, we'll run her in those races at division," said Carson coach Todd Ackerman, pleasantly surprised at Sanchez' times in her new events.

Prunty was the winner in the 400-meter dash (59.6) and the 800-meter run (2:27.0). The 400 meter time was a personal record for Prunty, a senior.

Freshman Shanna Sparks swept the distance races, taking the 1,600 in 5:18 and the 3,200 in 11:07. With the distance races being coed, Sparks always had someone to run against.

"She was really quick," Ackerman said. "It was good that she had someone to chase."

Other highlights for the Senators included:

-Josh Branco had a personal record in the 1,600 (4:40) and ran the 800 in 2:05.

-Doug Brooks had a personal record of 11.03 in the 100, good for third place.

-Matt Waterman had his personal record of 11.65 in the 100, good for third in the frosh/soph race. He was also fourth in the 200 in 24.06.

-Chandler Menteer was third in both the shot and disc.

- Megan Anderson was third in the discus with a personal record of 112-9.

-MacKenzie Taylor was fourth in the shot in 34-4.

-Sarah Shaw ran a personal record of 2:46 in the 800.

-Megan Zahnter recorded her personal record in the 1,600 (5:44), which was good for third in the frosh/soph race. She also ran the 800 in 2:46 and placed fifth.

-Elana Fritz went 7-0 to place sixth in the pole vault.

-Nick Samaras recorded times of 15.84 in the high hurdles and 42.2 in the intermediate hurdles.

-Andrew Peterson ran well in the frosh distance races, recording a 5:02 1,600 and a 10:50 3,200.

The meet was one of the final tune-ups for the Senators before the Division II meet set for Friday in Fallon.