San Benito track and field athletes head to Hampton Phillips;
look to improve on marks with TCAL and CCS postseason fast
approaching
Hollister – On the heels of competing in the Stanford and Arcadia Invitationals the past two weekends, select members of San Benito’s track and field team head to yet another elite meet today. For the first time in the program’s history, the Haybalers will test themselves against the field at the Hampton Phillips Track and Field Classic.
“So far this season, I’d say it’s right after Arcadia and Stanford,” San Benito head coach Iran White said when assessing Hampton Phillips’ prestige. “Looking at who’s invited, I’d say it’s the third most intense invitational this year.”
Whenever you see California High star David Klech listed among a meet’s entrants, you know it’s an A-list invitational. Klech, a UCLA-bound senior, is the top seed in four events and ran the fourth-fastest time in U.S. prep history in the 300-meter hurdles last week in Arcadia.
As for top-level programs that will be in attendance when the competition begins at San Jose City College, James Logan, JW North, Granada and Holy Names are but a few of the meet’s heavyweights. And San Benito looks to make its name known as a track and field powerhouse as well.
‘Baler senior Todd Merrigan enters Hampton Phillips as the top seed in the pole vault competition. After facing some of the nation’s top pole vaulters the past two weekends, Merrigan looks to improve on his school record of 15-2. Junior Josh Schroder, who also took on the tough fields at Stanford and Arcadia, is seeded third after securing his PR of 14-2 last weekend.
Amanda Boyd is set to run in the 1600 and 3200-meter races. The ‘Baler senior is seeded second in the 3200 at 11:05, five seconds off the time of San Lorenzo’s Taylor Johnson. Boyd is slotted 10 th in the 1600.
Her distance counterpart for the ‘Baler boys, RigoVasquez, enters Hampton Phillips seeded sixth in the 1600-meter race. With a top time of 4:28, Vasquez is set on reaching 4:25, according to White.
Other Haybalers to look for include Jeff Weltz (100 and 200-meter dashes), Jackie Perrien (shot put), Morgan O’Laughlin (discus), and Ashley Patton (pole vault and high jump).
White has his eyes on freshman Ryan Shorey as well. After posting a time of 53.27 in the 400-meter dash, Shorey has already exceeded his coach’s expectations this season.
“He doing so great as a freshman,” White said. “I’m not expecting any more, I’m just hoping.”
San Benito will also enter a team into the frosh-soph boys distance medley. Haybalers Ian Bambrick (400-meter), Aaron Smith (800), Curtis Wright (1200) and Mark Frelier (1600) hope to make the most of their opportunity in the unique event.
As for the ‘Balers as a group, Hampton Phillips marks one of the last opportunities that San Benito athletes will see top competition before the Tri-County Athletic League and Central Coast Section postseason meets begin next month.
“It’s the time of year where they have to start flirting with greatness if they’re going to … be able to compete at CCS Finals and make it to State,” White said.
