PREP SPORTS:

Sprinter breaks state record in 100-meter dash

Valley junior also has 10th best time nationally

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Valley High’s Garic Wharton broke the 200-meter dash 4A state record with a time of 21.1 seconds at last year’s state track meet. That speed has led to interest from major college football programs.

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Friday, May 22, 2009 | 6:49 p.m.

Valley speedster highly sought after by colleges (4/1/09)

High school sports section

Valley High junior Garic Wharton can call himself the fastest high school sprinter in Nevada.

Ever.

Wharton’s time of 10.39 seconds in the 100-meter dash Friday during the large-school state track meet at Del Sol shattered a two-decade-old record of 10.54 seconds set by Las Vegas High’s Charles Smith in 1983.

Wharton’s time ranks No. 10 nationally according to DyeStat.com, a Web site that documents times for all states.

“I just wanted to win the race,” Wharton said. "The times and records come as they come. I race to win, not to set records.”

This is not the first time Wharton has broken a state record. His time of 21.1 to win the 200 at last year’s state meet is also a record.

That performance put him on the map as a top-tier college football prospect. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound wide receiver has received offers from the likes of Utah and Nebraska and is ranked as the nation’s No. 66 receiver by recruiting Web site Rivals.com.

“It’s a combination of natural ability and learning how to run the race,” Valley coach Mark Salzman said. “He has been a real technician this year and executed at various parts of the race.”

Wharton wasn’t the only sprinter with an impressive time in the 100.

Second-place finisher Joel Hotchkins of Chaparral finished in 10.43, the 12th fastest time nationally, and Liberty’s Shaun Murray had the nation’s 14th best time of 10.45 in taking third.

Both Hotchkins and Murray would have had times fast enough to break the state mark.

“I got out of the box fast and ran a good race,” Hotchkins said. “I was happy with my time and place.”

The trio will square off again at 8 p.m. Saturday in the finals of the 200. Wharton, despite being the state record holder, will be at a disadvantage because he is racing out of the first lane.

Just don’t show up late to the track — those speedsters will be done in around 20 seconds.

“Racing against those guys brings out the best in me,” Wharton said.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com.