‘Baler boys
&
amp; girls wrap up regular season with victories at Live Oak
Morgan Hill – The San Benito track and field team put the finishing touches on its Tri-County Athletic League season by defeating host Live Oak on Thursday afternoon in the teams’ final competition before the TCAL trials next week.
“It was a slow-running meet. Live Oak is not a big team,” San Benito girls coach Julio Trinidad said. “We kind of used it as a tune-up meet and rested a lot of athletes for the finals.”
The ‘Baler boys (6-0) topped the Acorns, 118-18, to finish undefeated in TCAL dual meets for the third straight year.
“It’s awesome. We’re really pumped up about that,” said San Benito boys coach Iran White of the perfect regular season. “We haven’t lost a league dual meet since I became coach three years ago. I give a lot of credit to our coaching staff. Everybody out here is busting their butts for the kids, and they’re busting their butts for us.”
Meanwhile, the Lady ‘Balers completed a strong season of their own, defeating Live Oak, 108-28, to finish 5-1 in TCAL dual meets.
White was especially pleased with the performance of freshman Ryan Shorey, who won the 400-meter race (52.7) and has a chance to qualify for the Central Coast Section meet.
“He really stepped it up,” White said. “There was a big void to fill when Jesse Rice graduated, and Shorey has done a good job.”
The San Benito boys took first place in all 10 of the track events against the Acorns.
Rigo Vasquez finished first in the 800 (2:00.2) and the 3200-meter (10:18.4) events, while teammate Jeff Weltz won the 100 (11.4) and the 200 (23.4). San Benito’s Thomas Parcell won the 1600 (4:43.5). Dru Blake took first in the 110-meter hurdles for San Benito with a time of 18.2 seconds, and also won the 300 hurdles in 26.4.
In the field events, San Benito enjoyed first-place finishes from Anthony Delacerda in the long jump (17-10.5), Chris Koroluk in the triple jump (37-9) and Francisco Faria in the high jump (6-0).
“It was good. It is the best I’ve felt all year,” said Faria of his high-jump performance. “I finally got back to 6-0 and I should have had 6-1, but I pulled my back on the first jump. I’m sure I’ll get it for the finals. I’m happy because, through all my high school years, we’ve been undefeated in league. I’m glad to be part of an awesome team.”
The Live Oak boys (1-5 TCAL) had two first-place finishers in the meet. Jimmy Mallette won the shot put (43-1) and Justin Martin finished first in the discus (113-1) for Live Oak. Just about six months ago, Martin underwent a heart transplant and wasn’t even expected to return to school this year.
“I’m super excited for him because he couldn’t even come out at the beginning of the season. He did it a step at a time. It’s really amazing to see a kid with a new heart to come out and compete like this,” Live Oak coach Dean Raymond said.
For the Lady ‘Balers, Amanda Boyd finished first in the 1600 (5:16.8) and the 3200-meter (11:45.5) races. In the 3200, a race that combined both the boys and girls teams, Boyd surpassed many of the boys and lapped several female competitors. Sandra Meza took first in the 400 (1:06) and the 800 (2:36.4) for San Benito. Carly Brigantino and Felicia Freitas won the 100-meter dash (13.25) and the 100-meter hurdles (18.4), respectively.
For the Live Oak girls (2-4 TCAL), Katie Armstrong won the 300-meter hurdles (53.8), and Courtney Robinson won the 200-meter dash (28.2).
The Lady ‘Balers swept the field events as Jackie Perrien won the shot put at 34-7, and the discus (103-1) and Justine Hunter finished first in the long jump (13-8.75) and triple jump (29-4). Senior Ashley Patton earned first place in the high jump (4-8), and sophomore Ashlyn Gonzales won the pole vault (8-6) for San Benito.
“It was a good time to have our meet here at Live Oak, since the TCAL finals are here next week,” White said. “I’m expecting us to do good, but it all depends on how well we do on Wednesday. I was looking for a few key people to step up a few weeks ago, and that has come to fruition.”
“They’re coming out a lot harder and hungrier,” Trinidad added. “We’re good to go. We have all the right people in the right spots. We’re where we need to be.”
The TCAL trials are set for North Salinas on Wednesday. The league finals take place at Live Oak next Saturday.
