GIRLS STATE: Rivals Allgood, Blake push each other in shot put finals

Legacy’s Avione Allgood and Palo Verde’s Ashlie Blake have pushed each other in the girls shot put all season.

The friendly rivals continued to push each other up the national rankings Friday while authoring personal-best performances at the Class 4A state track meet at Del Sol.

Allgood, a junior, captured her third straight 4A girls state shot put title with a heave of 47 feet, 11¾ inches. She hit the mark twice, falling one-quarter inch off the state meet record of 48-0 set by Carson’s Jessica Marable in 1995.

“It feels really good. I feel like I’ve worked really hard for it,” Allgood said. “I’d never set a (personal best) at state, so I’m happy.”

Blake, a freshman, took second in the shot put at 47-7¾ on her second attempt to set her own personal benchmark.

“I take a positive out of it,” Blake said. “(Allgood) is a junior and I’m a freshman, so it was expected of her to beat me. But it was good for me because I threw better than I’ve ever done.”

Allgood’s throw is the No. 9 outdoor mark in the nation this season, according to track and field website DyeStat.com, while Blake rose to No. 12. Dozens of curious onlookers crowded the throwing area to watch Allgood and Blake try to one-up each other.

Blake said competing against Allgood, a teammate in club events, has been a highlight of the season.

“She’s like my little big sister, and I’m her big little sister,” Blake said.

Allgood will try to defend her discus state title against Blake on Saturday. The meet resumes at 8 a.m. at Del Sol, with team titles up for grabs in all four classes.

Legacy senior Candice McFarland entered the 4A girls 300-meter hurdles “so nervous” because it had been her toughest event.

So much for that.

McFarland set a 300 hurdles state meet record in 42.67 seconds, edging Centennial senior Karli Johonnot in a photo finish. Johonnot’s time of 42.73 also eclipsed the old state meet record of 43.25, set by Carson’s Kayla Sanchez in 2007.

Johonnot had an early lead, but McFarland surged ahead after the curve.

“I’m just overwhelmed, in a good way,” McFarland said. “Around the curve, I started feeling like I was getting close to catching up. I just said, 'Candice, you’ve got to drive.’ I wanted this so bad, and I took it.”

McFarland and Johonnot have taken turns atop the medal stand in the hurdles for years, and the Northwest League rivals will square off again in Saturday’s 100 hurdles.

“Me and Karli are good friends,” McFarland said. “We’re friends outside of track, but when we get on this track, it’s strictly business.”

McFarland also ran on the Longhorns’ 400 relay team, which won in 48.78 seconds.

Damonte Ranch wrapped up the first day of the 4A girls meet in first place, with 42 points, followed closely by Centennial (41) and Legacy (38).

Centennial is within striking distance thanks largely to sophomore sprinter Tamera Williams, who won the 100 in 12.38.

Faith Lutheran senior Krystal Onyema took the 4A girls triple jump at 37-7¾.

Northern Nevada teams have dominated the small-school girls meets. Elko leads with 76 points in 3A, Incline with 66 points in 2A and Wells with 54 points in 1A.