Running third place down the stretch in her 1,600-meter heat on
Tuesday, with Alisal’s Dariani Salvador just a sliver ahead, San
Benito freshman Maura Forbush was all but guaranteed a top-nine
spot.
In a meet like the Tri-County Athletic League Trials, where
points and times don’t matter and where only the top nine advance
to Friday’s championships, it was all that was really needed.
”
But I guess the competitive side got to me,
”
Forbush said.
”
I didn’t have to speed up, but it was such a short amount of
space.
”
SALINAS
Running third place down the stretch in her 1,600-meter heat on Tuesday, with Alisal’s Dariani Salvador just a sliver ahead, San Benito freshman Maura Forbush was all but guaranteed a top-nine spot.
In a meet like the Tri-County Athletic League Trials, where points and times don’t matter and where only the top nine advance to Friday’s championships, it was all that was really needed.
“But I guess the competitive side got to me,” Forbush said. “I didn’t have to speed up, but it was such a short amount of space.”
Dealt with the option of either staying in third and saving some energy for Friday’s league meet, or leapfrogging Salvador and taking second, Forbush chose the latter.
Yes, the postseason has begun for the San Benito track and field team — their ultra-competitive drive in full tilt.
“I figured I could push myself. I might as well do it,” said Forbush, who finished second in her heat, fifth overall, in a near personal-record time of 5:26.14.
“I’m hoping to do better on Friday,” she said.
Of course, Tuesday’s TCAL Trials at North Salinas High was a mere precursor of things to come, as competitors looked to lock up top-nine standings in order to further extend their season another meet.
In all, San Benito will send at least 31 competitors from the TCAL Trials to the TCAL Championships at Gilroy High — slightly more than one year ago. Included will be 20 boys and 11 girls, although competitors in both the boys and girls 3,200 and pole vault, as well as the girls high jump and all relay teams, automatically advanced to Friday’s finals due to a lack of competitors.
“It’s gonna be a challenge, but I think we’ll come out on top,” Forbush said.
The three-time defending champion Lady Balers will be in an especially interesting position on Friday. Their only dual-meet loss during the regular season came against Gilroy, which lost to Salinas, which lost to Notre Dame, which lost to San Benito.
“It’s a big circle.” Forbush said.
Meanwhile, North Salinas, which narrowly finished runner-up at last season’s TCAL Championships and was expected to be formidable this season, has struggled all spring with injuries.
Then again, perhaps in a sign of better health, the Vikings just recently won the Salinas City Championships.
“We feel like we could have went (into TCALs) undefeated,” said Michelle Duarte, who, along with Forbush and Vanessa Estrada, is one of three Lady Balers to advance to the league finals in both the 800 and 1,600 events.
“It’s probably gonna be really close,” Duarte added. “We just need to give it our all and try to take it all.
“We’ve done it the last three years.”
Although San Benito only advanced 11 to Friday’s finals, down from 13 a year ago, at least eight of them will compete in multiple events, including Melisah Cortez (200, 400), Melissa Castro (300 hurdles, high jump), Chelsea Emilio (long jump, triple jump), Cassie Pate (shot put, discus) and Jennifer Temperino (shot put, discus).
Meanwhile, the boys will counter with at least seven athletes in multiple events, including Isaac Navarrete (100, 200), Jason Roascio (200, 400), David Kret (200, 800), Jordan Belton (400, high jump), Lucas Haro (110 hurdles, triple jump), Jayjoel Fernandez (110 hurdles, long jump, triple jump) and Frankie Martinez (shot put, discus).
The added boost — San Benito qualified 17 from last year’s trials — will be much needed on Friday, though, as the Balers will be without one, and possibly two, of their top point-scorers in Scott Medina and Jose Castillo.
Medina, who excelled in the jumps and was even a leg on San Benito’s section-leading 4×400 team, will be sidelined on Friday. But Castillo, who is battling an ankle injury and didn’t compete on Tuesday, could make a return in the 3,200 on Friday.
“As a team, we have two guys hurt right now,” said Eddie Guzman, who will compete in the 1,600 on Friday after taking second place in the event in 4:34.18 on Tuesday. “They are two big point-scorers. So all the other guys need to pick it up in their events, and I need to pick it up in the two-mile to get more points.”
As the only undefeated team in the TCAL, San Benito will enter Friday’s championships with six additional points — points that could be very helpful in the long run. After all, the Balers’ streak of seven straight titles came to an end last season when they were narrowly edged by Salinas, 114-104.
But Guzman feels that since the Balers know what they’ll be without on Friday, they’ll be that much more prepared as a result.
“They were really important to the team,” Guzman said. “But we’re still going in there with a positive attitude — we can win this meet.”
The Tri-County Athletic League Championships will be held at Gilroy High School on Friday at 4 p.m.
Tri-County Athletic League Trials
Top 9 Qualifiers Only
Girls 100 Meter Dash Varsity
===================================================================
Name Year School Prelims H#
===================================================================
Preliminaries
1 Iesha Boyd 10 Salinas 13.04Q 2
2 Katherine Wells 12 North Salinas 13.37Q 3
3 Lindsey Foster 12 Gilroy 13.50Q 1
4 LeVesha Jones 12 Everett Alvarez 13.36q 2
5 Kristine Olivas 12 North Salinas 13.37q 2
6 Le Nae Stevens 10 San Benito 13.57q 1
7 Kyana Rivera 9 Salinas 13.61q 3
8 Chelsey Kalata 10 Gilroy 13.72q 1
9 Rubie Sugabo 10 Alisal 13.74q 2
Girls 200 Meter Dash Varsity
===================================================================
Name Year School Prelims H#
===================================================================
1 Rachel Davidson 10 Salinas 27.13Q 4
2 Iesha Boyd 10 Salinas 27.23Q 2
3 Katherine Wells 12 North Salinas 27.30Q 1
4 Kiera Paulo 9 Notre Dame 27.57Q 3
5 Lindsey Foster 12 Gilroy 27.53q 2
6 Melisah Cortez 12 San Benito 27.58q 1
7 Aimee Sawyer 12 Salinas 27.80q 2
8 Tyler Dixon 10 Notre Dame 27.95q 4
9 Emily Reclusado 12 Everett Alvarez 28.00q 2
Girls 400 Meter Dash Varsity
===================================================================
Name Year School Prelims H#
===================================================================
1 Rachel Davidson 10 Salinas 60.94Q 1
2 Kiera Paulo 9 Notre Dame 61.80Q 2
3 Melisah Cortez 12 San Benito 61.44q 1
4 Tyler Dixon 10 Notre Dame 61.86q 1
5 Aimee Sawyer 12 Salinas 62.60q 2
6 Kiara Medina 12 Notre Dame 63.37q 2
7 Jessica Cook 11 San Benito 63.45q 2
8 Paulina Garcia 10 Alisal 64.56q 1
9 Sydney Busch 12 Notre Dame 66.35q 2
Girls 800 Meter Run Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 Nina Anderson 10 Notre Dame 2:22.44q
2 Maura Forbush 9 San Benito 2:25.58q
3 Dariani Salvador 12 Alisal 2:26.41q
4 Michelle Durate 12 San Benito 2:26.89q
5 Mariella Meza 10 Alisal 2:27.03q
6 Kelsey Palassou 12 Salinas 2:28.97q
7 Vanessa Estrada 9 San Benito 2:29.76q
8 Elise Ogle 12 Gilroy 2:30.86q
9 Athena Alarcon 10 Gilroy 2:31.90q
Girls 1600 Meter Run Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 Nina Anderson 10 Notre Dame 5:08.67Q
2 Michelle Durate 12 San Benito 5:21.42Q
3 Athena Alarcon 10 Gilroy 5:22.83q
4 Vanessa Estrada 9 San Benito 5:25.95q
5 Maura Forbush 9 San Benito 5:26.14q
6 Dariani Salvador 12 Alisal 5:26.82q
7 Sumeet Mudahar 12 Notre Dame 5:29.78q
8 Elise Ogle 12 Gilroy 5:30.81q
9 Graciela Belmontes 9 Alisal 5:36.68q
Girls 100 Meter Hurdles Varsity
===================================================================
Name Year School Prelims H#
===================================================================
1 Sarah Una Dia 12 Gilroy 15.99Q 2
2 India Grayson 12 North Salinas 16.81Q 1
3 Maggie Valenzuela 12 Alisal 17.00q 1
4 Rhaissel Perez 11 Everett Alvarez 17.02q 1
5 Yvonne Martinez 10 Salinas 17.73q 1
6 Omolara Adenuga 10 Notre Dame 17.77q 2
7 Lizzie Prader 11 Salinas 17.90q 2
8 Samantha Irwin 10 Gilroy 17.93q 2
9 Averi Papazian 12 Salinas 17.93q 1
Girls 300 Meter Hurdles Varsity
===================================================================
Name Year School Prelims H#
===================================================================
1 Sarah Una Dia 12 Gilroy 49.20Q 3
2 Maggie Valenzuela 12 Alisal 49.77Q 1
3 Rhaissel Perez 11 Everett Alvarez 50.12Q 2
4 Yvonne Martinez 10 Salinas 50.70q 2
5 Kelly Packwood 9 Everett Alvarez 50.97q 3
6 Samantha Una Dia 9 Gilroy 51.27q 1
7 Laura Reyes 9 Everett Alvarez 51.81q 1
8 Mariel Busch 11 Notre Dame 52.28q 2
9 Melissa Castro 10 San Benito 52.69q 1
Girls Long Jump Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 Lindsey Foster 12 Gilroy 16-07.25q
2 Sarah Una Dia 12 Gilroy 16-03.00q
3 Maria Suarez 12 Alisal 15-07.00q
4 Mariel Busch 11 Notre Dame 15-07.00q
5 Chelsea Emilio 12 San Benito 15-03.75q
6 Iesha Boyd 10 Salinas 15-01.25q
7 Becky Kemper 12 North Salinas 15-01.00q
8 Angela Rivelli 11 Notre Dame 15-01.00q
9 Kyana Rivera 9 Salinas 15-00.00q
Girls Triple Jump Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 Maria Suarez 12 Alisal 34-07.25q
2 Roseanna Ruiz 12 North Salinas 32-10.50q
3 Ellen Yamaski 11 North Salinas 32-10.00q
4 Angela Rivelli 11 Notre Dame 32-08.00q
5 Chelsea Emilio 12 San Benito 32-02.00q
6 Becky Kemper 12 North Salinas 32-01.00q
7 Rubie Sugabo 10 Alisal 31-06.50q
8 Mariel Busch 11 Notre Dame 31-04.00q
9 Ginger Mina 11 Everett Alvarez 30-11.00q
Girls Shot Put Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 Briona Sullen 12 North Salinas 39-00.00q
2 Sarina Sandoval 10 Gilroy 34-11.00q
3 Tosin Adenuga 12 Notre Dame 32-00.00q
4 Angeline Kimbo 11 Gilroy 31-00.00q
5 Cassandra Pate 12 San Benito 30-09.00q
6 Jennifer Temperino 12 San Benito 30-06.00q
7 Krystal Alnas 10 San Benito 30-05.50q
8 Tiana Osborne 11 North Salinas 29-09.00q
9 Maria Cruz-Cornejo 11 Alisal 29-06.00q
Girls Discus Throw Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 Briona Sullen 12 North Salinas 118-02q
2 Jennifer Temperino 12 San Benito 102-10q
3 Angeline Kimbo 11 Gilroy 95-02q
4 Hannah Morrison 12 North Salinas 91-08q
5 Stephanie Escalera 11 Everett Alvarez 85-01q
6 Cassandra Pate 12 San Benito 84-11q
7 Gabrielle Bollin 10 Everett Alvarez 84-03q
8 Maria Cruz-Cornejo 11 Alisal 82-03q
9 Bianca Gonzalez 12 North Salinas 82-02q
Boys 100 Meter Dash Varsity
===================================================================
Name Year School Prelims H#
===================================================================
1 Julius Travis 11 Gilroy 11.19Q 1
2 Jourdan Soares 10 Gilroy 11.49Q 5
3 John Osborne 11 Palma 11.84Q 3
4 Isaac Navarrete 11 San Benito 11.84Q 4
5 Jameson Madzingira 11 Alisal 11.95Q 2
6 Romeo Travis 11 Gilroy 11.68q 5
7 Michael Amiya 11 Salinas 11.91q 4
8 Moises Cruz 12 Salinas 12.10q 5
9 Alfredo Machena 12 Everett Alvarez 12.13q 3
Boys 200 Meter Dash Varsity
===================================================================
Name Year School Prelims H#
===================================================================
1 Daniel Donate 12 Alisal 22.70Q 1
2 Julius Travis 11 Gilroy 23.31Q 4
3 Isaac Navarrete 11 San Benito 23.42Q 3
4 Romeo Travis 11 Gilroy 23.74Q 5
5 Brandyn Crosby 12 Salinas 23.95Q 2
6 Jason Roascio 11 San Benito 22.79q 1
7 David Kret 10 San Benito 23.42q 3
8 John Osborne 11 Palma 24.32q 4
9 Moises Cruz 12 Salinas 24.39q 3
Boys 400 Meter Dash Varsity
===================================================================
Name Year School Prelims H#
===================================================================
1 Jason Roascio 11 San Benito 50.71Q 2
2 Daniel Donate 12 Alisal 51.57Q 1
3 Edgard Villanueva 12 Alisal 52.10q 2
4 Brandyn Crosby 12 Salinas 52.17q 1
5 Jordan Belton 10 San Benito 52.84q 2
6 Ronald Short 11 Gilroy 53.09q 1
7 David Guenther 11 Gilroy 53.61q 1
8 Felipe Davila 12 San Benito 53.67q 2
9 Jaime Maldonado 12 Alisal 55.21q 2
Boys 800 Meter Run Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 David Kret 10 San Benito 2:00.02q
2 David Perez 12 Salinas 2:00.06q
3 Eddie Ruano 11 Everett Alvarez 2:00.87q
4 Bryan Tena 10 Salinas 2:02.48q
5 Chris Gobell 12 Salinas 2:02.62q
6 Steven Hernandez 11 San Benito 2:05.27q
7 Jorge Aguilar 11 San Benito 2:05.49q
8 Christian Ortega 12 Salinas 2:05.65q
9 Juan Velasquez 12 Gilroy 2:05.67q
Boys 1600 Meter Run Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 Cristian Soratos 12 Salinas 4:30.21Q
2 Eddie Guzman 11 San Benito 4:34.18Q
3 David Perez 12 Salinas 4:34.05q
4 Chris Gobell 12 Salinas 4:34.20q
5 Max Bell 11 Salinas 4:34.22q
6 Manuel Negrete 11 Alisal 4:34.45q
7 Omar Vasquez 10 San Benito 4:36.52q
8 Sergio Alcala 11 San Benito 4:42.29q
9 Juan Velasquez 12 Gilroy 4:42.58q
Boys 110 Meter Hurdles Varsity
===================================================================
Name Year School Prelims H#
===================================================================
1 Julian Nagata 11 Everett Alvarez 16.40Q 1
2 Michael Saccone 11 Gilroy 16.67Q 2
3 John Andrus 12 Palma 16.68q 2
4 Christian Ruelas 12 Salinas 16.96q 1
5 Lucas Haro 10 San Benito 17.29q 2
6 Jayjoel Fernandez 11 San Benito 17.38q 2
7 Tom Sharp 11 Palma 17.41q 1
8 Ed Sharp 11 Palma 17.49q 2
9 Phillip Bezouska 11 Salinas 17.50q 1
Boys 300 Meter Hurdles Varsity
===================================================================
Name Year School Prelims H#
===================================================================
1 Julian Nagata 11 Everett Alvarez 40.62Q 3
2 Jacob Funk 12 San Benito 42.40Q 1
3 Crystian Reyes 11 Everett Alvarez 42.78Q 2
4 Jacob Singley 11 Salinas 42.80q 2
5 Jeremy Chase 12 San Benito 42.87q 1
6 Christian Ruelas 12 Salinas 43.89q 3
7 Justin Rendon 11 San Benito 44.03q 1
8 Luis Ramirez 11 Alisal 44.31q 2
9 Kyle Sterrett 11 Palma 44.58q 2
Boys High Jump Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 Jourdan Soares 10 Gilroy 5-06.00q
1 Dustin Franco 12 San Benito 5-06.00q
1 Jacob Singley 11 Salinas 5-06.00q
1 Nick Jenkins 11 Palma 5-06.00q
5 Romeo Travis 11 Gilroy 5-06.00q
6 Alex Garratt 9 San Benito 5-06.00q
7 Phillip Bezouska 11 Salinas 5-06.00q
8 Jason Hilario 11 Everett Alvarez 5-04.00q
8 Dragon Roberts 11 Palma 5-04.00q
8 Jordan Belton 10 San Benito 5-04.00q
Boys Long Jump Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 Jourdan Soares 10 Gilroy 21-02.75q
2 Michael Amiya 11 Salinas 20-02.50q
3 John Osborne 11 Palma 19-10.25q
4 David Guenther 11 Gilroy 19-08.25q
5 Diego Gaona 11 Salinas 19-07.25q
6 Kenneth Benedictos 11 North Salinas 19-05.50q
7 Mitchell Johnson 11 Salinas 19-02.00q
8 Jayjoel Fernandez 11 San Benito 18-09.25q
9 Junior Cortez 12 Salinas 18-08.50q
Boys Triple Jump Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 Kenneth Benedictos 11 North Salinas 41-05.50q
2 John Duong 11 North Salinas 40-06.75q
3 Jameson Madzingira 11 Alisal 40-06.75q
4 David Guenther 11 Gilroy 40-06.50q
5 Lucas Haro 10 San Benito 40-01.75q
6 Ricardo Gonzalez 10 San Benito 39-05.50q
7 Jayjoel Fernandez 11 San Benito 39-04.00q
8 Anthony Galpon-Olivas 12 Salinas 39-03.75q
9 Junior Cortez 12 Salinas 38-11.75q
Boys Shot Put Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 Enrique Ramos 11 San Benito 45-06.00q
2 Anthony McKay 11 Everett Alvarez 44-00.00q
3 Frankie Martinez 12 San Benito 43-09.00q
4 Cordero Gonzales 11 Gilroy 43-08.00q
5 Weston Hawkins 11 Salinas 42-10.00q
6 Chandler Hubbard 12 Salinas 41-02.00q
7 Alejandro Padron 11 Salinas 40-07.00q
8 Roland Sanchez 12 Everett Alvarez 39-08.00q
9 Gavino Vargas 11 Everett Alvarez 39-06.00q
Boys Discus Throw Varsity
================================================================
Name Year School Prelims
================================================================
1 Frankie Martinez 12 San Benito 147-04q
2 Alejandro Padron 11 Salinas 131-09q
3 Christian Villicana 12 Salinas 126-00q
4 Chima Ikeme 11 Gilroy 121-06q
5 Weston Hawkins 11 Salinas 121-03q
6 Steven Reinartz 12 Gilroy 121-01q
7 Roland Sanchez 12 Everett Alvarez 120-06q
8 Alexis Aguilar 12 Alisal 120-05q
9 Cordero Gonzales 11 Gilroy 117-02q
