Columnist Spencer Patterson: Southern Nevada’s track stars rival nation’s best

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, May 11, 2000 | 10:11 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers high school sports for the Sun. His prep sports column appears Thursday. Reach him at 259-4085 or spencer@lasvegassun.com

The development of Southern Nevada's prep spring sports scene has been well documented during the area's period of unprecedented growth in the last decade.

The Las Vegas area has established a reputation as one of the nation's hotbeds for young baseball talent, with more players every year signing with colleges or turning professional.

Softball is not far behind, with the college ranks full of former Southern Nevada prep stars. In golf, the area's best have put Las Vegas on the map as well.

But in track and field, Southern Nevada has largely gone unnoticed by the rest of the country. That is, until this spring.

During the 2000 season, a group of stellar high school standouts has helped attract the attention of college coaches from near and far who are starting to realize that Nevada's track stars can compete with the nation's best.

On Friday and Saturday, the area's elite will be on display for the final time at the 4A Southern Zone Championships at Las Vegas High. After that, only next week's 4A State Championship meet will remain for a group of seniors set to begin their college track careers.

Headlining the event will be Mojave's talented duo of Calvin Redden and Nicole Ireland, a pair of sprinters who have been grabbing local headlines since their freshman season four years ago.

Redden, an Alabama signee, has posted Southern Nevada's top times this season in all three of his individual events -- the 100 (10.69), 200 (21.15) and 400 meters (49.5). The defending state champion in the 200, Redden will be looking for three individual titles next week, along with another as a member of a relay squad.

Ireland, who will also attend Alabama on a track scholarship next year, has area bests this spring in four of her individual events -- the 100 (11.7), 200 (24.5), 400 (54.4) and 100 meter high hurdles (13.9). Already the only athlete in Nevada history with four gold medals at a single state meet, Ireland will be gunning to duplicate that feat next week, this time in four individual events.

Also closing out his stellar prep career this month will be Las Vegas High senior Anthony Park, one of the top triple jumpers in the nation. Park, who has committed to attend the Air Force Academy next year, has triple jumped 49 feet, 5 1/2 inches this spring and also boasts the area's best long jump at 23-8 1/2.

High jumpers DeShaun Houston of Cimarron-Memorial and Elijah Smith of Mojave have produced solid seasons as well, with both clearing 6-10 this spring.

Southern Nevada is not short on top-notch distance runners this season, either.

Green Valley's Abby Miller, a four-time state cross country champion, has posted times of 5:09.5 in the 1,600 and 10:41 in the 3,200. The High School Heisman winner is looking to repeat as state champion in the 3,200 and improve on her second-place finish in the 1,600 meters.

Miller's counterpart on the boys' side is Bonanza's Cory Jeffers, a two-time state cross country champ and the defending state gold medalist in both the 1,600 and 3,200. This spring, Jeffers has picked up where he left off last year, racing to area bests in the 1,600 (4:21.9) and 3,200 (9:32.27).

And in field events, Silverado's Lara Saye -- a UCLA signee -- has the nation's top high school girls discus toss this year (163-4). Saye also boasts the area's best shot put distance at 42-3 1/4.

* ALL-STAR FESTIVITIES: The eighth annual Green Valley Rotary Club high school all-star games will be held Saturday, May 20, at UNLV's Peter Johann Field. The girls game will begin at 6 p.m., with boys action slated to start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $3 and can be purchased at the gate or from members of the Green Valley Rotary Club...

* TRYOUTS & CAMPS: Green Valley will host the Gator basketball camp June 5-8 and June 12-15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The camp costs $125. For more information, call 799-0950, ext. 271...

Faith Lutheran High will hold American Legion baseball tryouts for players entering the ninth grade or above. For more information, call Scott Fogo at 804-4400 by May 18...