BOYS STATE: Centennial’s Hartle eclipses 800 mark; Silverado edges Bulldogs for title

Nick Hartle is getting used to breaking records.

One day after setting the Class 4A boys state track meet record in the 1,600 meters, the Centennial junior shattered the meet record for 800 meters with a time of 1 minute, 49.91 seconds Saturday at Del Sol.

“I wanted to go 1:48,” Hartle said. “I wanted to go out about a second slower on my first lap, then I would have been able to kick it harder. With 200 (meters) left, I let up just a little bit. Other than that, I’m happy. To get that record, it was pretty awesome.”

Hartle’s time eclipsed the mark of 1:50.78, set by Galena’s Joseph Abbott in 2008.

Hartle came out determined to topple the record.

“(Hartle) keeps a record of every race he has ever had,” Centennial coach Roy Sessions said. “He’s become an advocate; he loves running.”

After winning Friday’s 1,600 in 4:10.23, Hartle’s 800 on Saturday was the No. 3 outdoor time in the nation this season, according to track web site DyeStat.com.

But even Hartle’s dramatic effort was not enough to derail the Silverado boys from capturing their first state track title since 2005.

In one of the closest team finishes ever, the Skyhawks (66 points) managed to hold off Centennial (62), Reno (61) and defending champion McQueen (55).

“We had a great, solid team all the way around,” Silverado coach Jerry Oliver said. “Sprinters, distance, relays, they all performed well.”

But it wasn’t easy.

Silverado was one point behind Reno and three points ahead of Centennial with only the 1,600 relay remaining.

McQueen won in 3:18.75, followed by Western (3:19.89) and Silverado (3:20.36), which held off Centennial (3:21.67).

Silverado anchor Ladale Jackson held off Hartle to give the Skyhawks six crucial points.

“I was scared,” Jackson said. “I don’t know how I ran as hard as I did. This guy right here (Hartle), he was right behind me. I don’t think I’ve ever run that hard in my life.”

Liberty’s Jordan Kapeli took the shot put at 55 feet, 6¾ inches.

In the closest finish of the day, Bonanza freshman Jayveon Taylor upset Silverado’s Jackson in the 100 in a photo finish, 10.89 to 10.9. Palo Verde’s Nahjee Matlock was third in 10.94.

The boys 4A pole vault required a jump off for first place, as Nick Maestretti of Douglas and Carlos Olague of Chaparral tied for first at 15-0. In the jump off, Maestretti cleared 15-3, so he was given credit for that as the winning height. Nick Stearns of Pahrump Valley was third at 14-6.

Also Saturday, Canyon Springs’ 400 relay team won the state title in 42.18.