One week after its 4×400 relay team clocked a 3:23.36
— the fastest recorded time in the Central Coast Section this
season — the San Benito boys’ track and field team posted another
top time, although this one is currently ranked No. 1 in
California. Competing at the Garlic Classic Track Invitational
Saturday in the 800-meter sprint medley relay, a
specialty relay that is a compilation of two 100-meter runs, a
200-meter run and a 400-meter run, San Benito registered a 1:35.68,
a time that would stand atop the latest state rankings, according
to dyestatcal.com.
GILROY
One week after its 4×400 relay team clocked a 3:23.36 — the fastest recorded time in the Central Coast Section this season — the San Benito boys’ track and field team posted another top time, although this one is currently ranked No. 1 in California.
Competing at the Garlic Classic Track Invitational Saturday in the 800-meter sprint medley relay, a specialty relay that is a compilation of two 100-meter runs, a 200-meter run and a 400-meter run, San Benito registered a 1:35.68, a time that would stand atop the latest state rankings, according to dyestatcal.com.
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The rankings include the top 15 times this season, with the Southern Section’s Paramount High listed at No. 1 with a 1:35.82 — roughly 14 one-hundredths of a second slower than San Benito’s time set on Saturday.
Michael Bocksnick and Cody Hendricks each ran a 100-meter leg for the sprint medley, while Zach Nitzel competed in the 200-meter leg and Jason Roascio ran the 400-meter anchor leg.
The Balers’ top time in the event earned them first place Saturday, too, as they defeated runner-up Gilroy (1:36.10) by nearly half a second. Gilroy’s time, meanwhile, would place them at the No. 3 spot in the state, according to the latest rankings.
San Benito boys’ track head coach Iran White said they were looking for a top time in the sprint medley in order to qualify for the Arcadia Invitational, which is arguably the largest meet in the state and will take place next month in Los Angeles.
“We needed a time to see if we can get there,” White said. “Hopefully, this was mission accomplished.”
According to Arcadia’s website, a sprint medley team must record a minimum time of 1:39.00 just in order to be considered for the exclusive meet. So although San Benito’s 1:35.68 appears to be the top time recorded in the state this season, and even makes the absolute minimum time for consideration, there are still no guarantees, White said.
That is, not until Arcadia announces its seedings for the April 8-9 meet, which is expected to be done March 31.
San Benito’s 4×400 time of 3:23.36, the fastest recorded time in the CCS and currently ranked No. 5 in the state, also meets Arcadia’s absolute minimum time for consideration (3:29.50).
Only a handful of track meets in the early season offer the sprint medley; the Garlic Classic, which was hosted by Christopher High but took place the Garcia-Elder Sports Complex on the Gilroy High campus, was one of them.
White said the last time a team from San Benito competed in the sprint medley was about five years ago.
“We were happy,” he said. “It was 40-something degrees, rainy, so they did a great job.
“I’d like to see how we do on a nice warm day.”
Saturday’s inclement weather did limit San Benito’s entries at the Garlic Classic, White said. Scott Medina in the 300 hurdles and the boys’ 4×400 relay, among others, did not compete last weekend.
Still, the Baler boys and Baler girls recorded several strong performances at Saturday’s meet. The San Benito girls even, took first place when they compiled 79 points and held off runner-up Tulare Western (66) and third-place Leland (52), among 14 other teams.
Darian Maroney helped lead the Baler girls, finishing fifth in the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.80 seconds, and finishing third in the 300 hurdles with a time of 53.17 seconds.
In the distance races, Vanessa Estrada was second in the 800 with a 2:24.66, and second in the 1,600 with a 5:27.05. Teammate Maura Forbush followed in both races, finishing fifth in the 800 with a 2:27.37 and fourth in the 1,600 with a 5:38.85.
San Benito’s Megan Pape also competed in the 1,600, finishing fifth in 5:54.55.
The Balers also had three relay teams compete, including the 4×100 (3rd, 53.57), the 4×200 (5th, 1:56.96), and the 4×400 (3rd, 4:25.63).
In the field, Krystal Alnas finished third in the discus with a throw of 95-08 and fourth in the shot put with a 33-04, while in the pole vault, Sarah Chao was second with an 8-06 and Marieke Liem was fourth with an 8-0.
Liem also tied for second in the high jump with a 4-07, while Savanna Wilson was fourth in the long jump with a 15-03 ¾.
Back on the boys’ side, although the 4×400 relay did no compete, San Benito’s 4×100 relay and distance medley relay competed, and both took first place.
The 4×100, made up of Michael Bocksnick, Zach Nitzel, Cody Hendricks and Jason Roascio, recorded a first-place time of 44.53 seconds, while the distance medley team, compiled of Jose Castillo in the 1,600, Sergio Alcala in the 1,200, David Kret in the 800 and Steven Hernandez in the 400, finished first as well in 10:52.53.
Castillo and Alcala, meanwhile, finished 3-4 in the 1,600 meters, recording times of 4:39.87 and 4:41.69, respectively, while Omar Vasquez took fifth in the event with a time of 4:42.16.
In the 110 hurdles, Jayjoel Fernandez took third in 17.10.
In the field events, Enrique Ramos took third in the shot put (47-02 ½); Eddie Valencia was fourth in the pole vault (9-0); and Emmett King was fifth in the discus (126-03).
As a team, San Benito compiled 68 points and finished runner-up to Enterprise, which finished with 86 points.
San Benito will return to TCAL action Thursday when it will visit North Salinas at 3:30 p.m.
To see complete results from Saturday’s Garlic Classic Track Invitational, go here.
