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Pahrump Valley’s Stearns sets regional pole vault mark

Pahrump Valley's Nick Stearns hadn't had much practice in the pole vault this season.

In fact, Wednesday's first day of the Sunset Region meet at Del Sol was just the fourth meet in which the Trojans senior competed in the event.

And all he did was clear 15 feet, 6 inches, the 10th-best mark in the country this season, according to athletic.net, and a regional record.

"These were the best vaulting conditions this year. Up until now it's either been windy or freezing cold," Stearns said. "This year has been a breakthrough for me."

Del Sol senior Colin Smith also broke a record Wednesday, winning the Sunrise Region's 3,200-meter run in 9 minutes, 33.36 seconds to top the previous mark of 9:33.88 set in 2007.

"I had hopes of a fast time in these conditions," said Smith, who led from the start. "After the first mile, when I saw my time (4:47), I just concentrated on holding my pace."

Finals were held in three boys and three girls field events and the boys 3,200 and girls 3,200 relay on Wednesday. The meets continue Friday and conclude May 13.

In the running events, the top two athletes or teams from each region and the next-best time, regardless of region, qualify for state. In the field events, the top three athletes from each region qualify for state.

In the contested field events, most of the top-seeded athletes advanced to state, including Legacy's Avione Allgood and Palo Verde's Ashlie Blake, who went 1-2 in the Sunset discus.

Allgood's winning throw of 140-11 was 2 inches off the stadium record she set last May.

Silverado's Diamondique Wright took the Sunrise girls discus with a throw of 107-11.

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