Pirate Track & Field preview: Chasing records & championships

As the 2026 spring sports season kicks off, the Moapa Valley High School track and field team is seeing a massive surge in interest, with 70 boys and 55 girls reporting to practice.

“This is one of our largest groups in recent memory, and the talent level is matching the numbers,” said MVHS head coach Shane Hickman. “Every athlete on the team is working hard to better themselves each week. They are all champions in my mind. With a roster of 125 athletes, it’s hard to name them all, but the internal competition at practice is pushing everyone to be better.”

The boys: The drive for five

The boys team enters the season with a clear and ambitious goal: maintaining its dominance in the 3A division and working toward a historic fifth consecutive state championship. To get there, the Pirates are leaning on a deeply experienced group of returners.

The Vault Squad: Seniors Dakota Bush and Eric Lee, along with junior Caleb Anderson, are all eyeing the top of the state podium in the pole vault.

The Field & Hurdles: Senior Brody Redd, a multi-event state qualifier, returns as a major threat in the long jump, triple jump and high hurdles. In the rings, senior Steele Meeks and sophomore Felix Ramirez lead the throwers.

The Track: Senior Hal Thompson continues Moapa Valley’s proud tradition of distance excellence, supported by senior Grant Conger and junior BJ Robison. The speed team is anchored by senior Austin Thornton and junior Jeremiah Dominguez, while the hurdles unit — Ryker Katich, Briggs Hickman, Ashton Hickman and Kamden Drosos — all bring state meet experience from last season.

Rising Talent: Sophomore Ashton Hickman, who broke the freshman 800-meter record last year, returns to tackle the 800 meters and both hurdles events. Hickman is also excited to see what freshmen newcomers Demetrius Holland (throws), Rowan Miller (sprints) and Aiden Steen (sprints) can contribute at the varsity level.

The girls: Records and rising stars

The girls team is young, hungry and exceptionally talented. The Lady Pirates are coming off a season where history was made and are looking to keep that momentum going.

Record Breakers & Veterans: Sophomore Anna Winward is back after a stunning freshman campaign in which she broke a 30-year-old school record in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. She is joined by veteran senior leader Taylee Bunch, a standout in both hurdles and high jump.

The Core: MVHS has a strong junior class in Addison Leavitt and dual-threat Abbie Palmer (sprints/throws). The sophomore class is particularly deep, featuring jumpers Jenna Dixon and sprints and distance twins Irelynn and Scotlynn Lewis, sprinter Paisley Nelson and distance runners Charlotte Kynaston and Madilyn Thompson.

New Additions: “We are expecting immediate impacts from sophomore Phoebe Leavitt and newcomer Lilian Cox,” Hickman said. “Lilian follows in the footsteps of her sister, Claire, and is already showing great promise in the high jump.”

Whether it’s the boys chasing a “five-peat” or the girls squad rewriting the record books, this season promises to be a good one. The Pirates are at Virgin Valley on Tuesday, March 3. They host meets at 4:30 p.m. on March 11, April 14 and April 21. The Richard Lewis Invitational at MVHS will be Friday, April 24 at 3 p.m.