Following a season in which it was forced to watch rival Gilroy
claim the Tri-County Athletic League championship the year
before
— the Mustangs have done so for three straight years now — the
Balers entered last season’s campaign, and will this year as well,
trying to replace its top runner.
HOLLISTER
Nothing new here; the San Benito girls cross country team was in the same exact position one year ago.
Following a season in which it was forced to watch rival Gilroy claim the Tri-County Athletic League championship the year before — the Mustangs have done so for three straight years now — the Balers entered last season’s campaign, and will this year as well, trying to replace its top runner.
“It seems like we’re always trying to replace the No. 1 runner that we’ve had,” said San Benito girls coach Josh Morales, who has lost a pair of two-time state qualifiers in consecutive years — Courtney Allen in 2009 and Rachel Shimabukuro in 2010.
“The girls just have to step it up and take the opportunity that was left,” Morales added. “There are always some big shoes to fill.”
Shimabukuro’s long-distance presence won’t be the only void to fill. Although the harrier finished fourth at TCALs, eighth at the Central Coast Section Championships and 97th in the state, San Benito will also be without the services of Michelle Duarte, who finished 21st at TCALs last year.
“Rachel was a great runner, but this year we’re gonna work hard and gonna try to get all of us to Rachel’s [level] … as a team,” said sophomore Vanessa Estrada, who is expected to be one of San Benito’s leaders this season, despite her underclassmen standing.
Last spring as a freshmen, Estrada finished seventh in the 800, sixth in the 1,600 and fourth in the 3,200 at the TCAL Track and Field Championships.
“Vanessa is quick right now,” Morales said. “I think we’ll be competitive early on.”
Improving upon last season’s fourth-place finish at the TCAL Championships won’t be a walk in the park for the Balers, however. Of the top 20 finishers at last season’s year-end race, only seven graduated from their respective schools, while three-time champion Gilroy returns plenty to the pack, including juniors Athena Alarcon, Savannah Silacci and Maritza Ruelas, each of whom finished within the top six at last season’s TCAL Championships.
The Balers will try and counter with senior Dayna Casillas, who placed ninth overall at last season’s TCAL race with a 20:31 at Toro Park, and was named all-league as a result. Along with senior Grace Tobias, who recorded a 22:11 at TCALs last year to finish first at the junior varsity ranks, the two will provide senior leadership to an otherwise youthful, sophomore-heavy squad.
With just one junior in Molly Lamanna, San Benito is expected to have several second-year runners vie for varsity times, including Estrada.
Sophomore Cynthia Trujillo is expected to further her strong freshmen campaign when she took the top spot at the TCAL Championships with a 22:01 in the frosh/soph race, while Maura Forbush, who didn’t compete for the cross country team last year but did excel for the track team in the spring, will try her hand at the longer, 3K distances.
“It’s a big difference because I’m used to the flat track,” said Forbush. a sophomore. “In cross country, it’s the hills and I really need to work on that. It’s not exactly my strong point, but I’ll get there.
“It’s a big difference, though, more miles. I’m probably halfway there, but I have the whole season in front of me.”
“It’s gonna be mental for her,” Morales said of Forbush. “Getting into the mindset of running three miles instead of just the mile she ran for track, it’s just about getting into that frame of mind.
“It’s all dependent upon the individual.”
Whether San Benito finds that individual to lead, or group of individuals to pace past Gilroy, Alisal and Notre Dame, remains to be seen. But they should have a better understanding of what’s ahead, and who’s leading the way, following the Madera Relays on Sept. 4 and the TCAL Jamboree on Sept. 8.
The unofficial kickoff to the season, meanwhile, will take place Sept. 11 in the Early Bird Invitational at Toro Park.
“Leaders?” Estrada asked.
“Well, mostly for our team, it doesn’t matter — if you’re on varsity — it doesn’t matter who it is because anyone can take that spot whoever gives their heart out and tries.”
