Seven ‘Balers just one step away from State
San Jose – So much for the shoe.
After seeing her right sneaker get dislodged by a competitor following the first lap of the 3200-meter race at the Central Coast Section Trials on Saturday, San Benito senior Amanda Boyd eventually decided she would be better off without it. Kicking off the shoe with one lap to go, Boyd nonetheless finished with a time that qualified her for the CCS Finals.
“I don’t even know why I tried to keep it on,” said Boyd, who finished in 11:30.63, good for ninth place. “I was talking to the girls behind me (afterwards), and they were like, ‘I saw your shoe.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah.'”
San Benito girls coach Julio Trinidad thought he had seen it all from his returning State qualifier, but had to shake his head after the events at San Jose City College.
“She just ran six laps with just her toes in the shoe and the shoe just kind of flopping around,” Trinidad said. “It just proves … she’s a tough competitor. She’ll stop at nothing to do what she needs to do and get the job done.”
Boyd was one of seven ‘Balers to qualify for the section finals, and the only one to advance in multiple events. She also took fourth in the 1600-meter race at 5:05.14.
Fellow seniors Jackie Perrien, Jeff Weltz and Todd Merrigan also put themselves in position to cap their final San Benito seasons at State. Also advancing to the CCS Finals were juniors Rigo Vasquez and Josh Schroder, and sophomore Anthony De La Cerda.
Merrigan, like Boyd, a 2005 State qualifier, had advanced to the CCS Trials in two events, but he opted out of the high jump to concentrate on his performance in the pole vault on Saturday. The strategy paid off as the ‘Baler broke his own school record to take second in the vault at 15-6. Merrigan had extended his previous record the week before, vaulting 15-5 at the Tri-County Athletic League Finals. Casey Roche of St. Francis cleared 16-0 to take first in the trials.
Teammate Schroder will join Merrigan in the CCS Finals after clearing 14-6 for fifth place. Trinidad, who doubles as the ‘Balers’ pole vault coach, was thrilled with his duo’s performance and what it means for the program.
“That’s big-time,” Trinidad said. “It just means we’re here. It’s just making our presence known. We rank up there with the big boys.”
A week after taking the league title in the two throwing events, Perrien qualified for the CCS Finals in the shotput (35-06.50) and the discus (107-0). Weltz continues to gain momentum and advanced in both the 100 (11.07) and 200-meter (22.70) dashes.
Another Haybaler overcame an off-day to snag a spot in the section finals as well. Despite being under the weather, Vasquez ran a 4:28.55 in the 1600-meter race, just three seconds off his PR.
“To tell you the truth, I blew it,” Vasquez said. “I felt like crap. My only goal was just to make it to finals.”
Asked his strategy for the upcoming competition, the ‘Baler said, “I’ll be ready. I’ve just got to stay with the front of the pack and hold on. Take off on the last 200 meters and break ’em apart.”
De La Cerda advanced for the ‘Balers in the high jump by clearing the bar at 6-0.
The CCS Finals take place at San Jose City College on Friday. The ‘Balers and other athletes present will compete for a top-three finish and a ticket to the CIF State Championships the following weekend.
Staff writer LeAnn Shea contributed to this report.
