Darrell Moody: Perkins carries on despite injury

When we last chronicled the exploits of former Carson High swimmer Barbara Perkins, she had just won a big race in New Orleans, and was headed toward a World Championship event overseas.

On Aug. 30, Perkins competed in the IronMan 70.3 World Champonships in Austria. She finished 45th after coming out of the water in 13th place. Perkins had to swim 1.2 miles, ride a bike 56 miles and run 13.1 miles.

“It was a warm day; in the 90s,” Perkins said. “I didn’t start the race until noon. The bicycle portion of the race went in to the Alps. It was a consistent climb stretching over seven miles with the last mile at a 15 percent grade.”

Perkins also was selected to the USA Triathlon National Team which competed in the Olympic Distance World Championship last weekend in Chicago. Perkins placed 33rd and was the 13th American finisher, clocking a 2:20.10, an improvement of four minutes off her previous best.

The race included a .93-mile swim, a 25-mile bike segment and a 6.2-mile run.

Perkins has been able to accomplish all this despite a lacerated liver suffered in mid-May at a race in Tennessee,

“I crashed my bike and lacerated my liver,” Perkins said. “I was going downhill in the rain, and came to a 90-degee right turn. My back wheel hit a metal grate and went out from under me. I rammed my handlebars into my ribcage and lacerated my liver. I spent the night in a hospital as they monitored for internal bleeding. The doctors were surprised that I didn’t break any bones from the impact. My liver injury has plagued me. I still managed some good results, but nothing like my win in New Orleans at the beginning of the season until the race this past weekend (in Chicago).

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Big games abound this week on the high school sports scene, and they are all at Carson High School.

On Wednesday night it’s the battle of boys soccer unbeatens when Wooster invades the Jim Frank Track & Field Complex to face the Senators. The teams split their season series last year, each winning on their home field. This could be a preview of a possible regional semifinal or final. All the good soccer is in the Sierra League this year, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see all the Sierra League teams win first-round playoff games.

Also on Tuesday, Carson hosts a tough Damonte Ranch team at 6 p.m. in volleyball. The Mustangs, McQueen, Douglas, Senators and Bishop Manogue are the class of northern Nevada volleyball.

On Friday, it’s the game of the year in the Sierra League when Damonte Ranch comes calling on the Senators. Carson won last year’s game, 31-28, when Asa Carter caught an alley-oop pass from Joe Nelson and turned it into a game-winning TD.

On Saturday morning, the Carson girls soccer team, assuming it gets past Wooster on Tuesday, hosts Galena at 11 a.m. in a key Sierra League match. The Grizzlies have given Carson fits over the years.

At 1 p.m. Saturday, the Senators and Galena boys tangle in a big soccer match.

I urge the community and student body to get out and support your teams.

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Speaking of supporting teams, it was disappointing to see the Hug contigent at Carson Friday night.

At one point, I counted just 22 spectators in the stands. Seriously?

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There;s an NIAA meeting in Reno this week, and realigment is on the agenda.

Wooster, according to reports, has asked to remain in Division 1A for football.

My sources tell me 1A schools want Wooster to come aboard for everything. If the Colts don’t, you may see them in large-school football in 2016.

That would be a mistake.

I also wish the Hug administration would do the right thing and let its school move down to 1A.

Let’s think about the kids Washoe County school folks and not yourselves.

Athletics should always be about the student-athletes. Do right by them for once.