San Benito’s Courtney Allen got a little help from an unexpected
source
– namely league rival Salinas – at the Central Coast Section
Cross Country Championships last weekend.
Allen clocked a 19:02 at Crystal Springs in Belmont Saturday,
good enough for 10th place overall.
Belmont
San Benito’s Courtney Allen got a little help from an unexpected source – namely league rival Salinas – at the Central Coast Section Cross Country Championships last weekend.
Allen clocked a 19:02 at Crystal Springs in Belmont Saturday, good enough for 10th place overall.
But whether or not she’d qualify for state was out of her hands. Allen’s future revolved around who would take second place: Salinas or Gilroy.
And it really couldn’t have been any closer.
Salinas and Gilroy tied for second place with 83 points each, but the tiebreaker – which was where the sixth-place runner finished – gave the Cowboys the edge.
As a result, Allen earned the final state berth, and will be off to the CIF State Cross Country Championships at Woodward Park in Fresno.
If Gilroy had won the tiebreaker, due to the amount of individual qualifiers, Allen’s season would be complete. It was that close.
“I thought I wasn’t going to make it, just because of all the people I saw passing me in the end,” Allen said afterward. “I didn’t think I had it today.”
Allen had just enough, though, and will represent San Benito at state next week.
The Lady ‘Balers took sixth with 162 points, while Carlmont took the top spot with 39 points. Justine Fedronic of Carlmont was first overall in 18:04.
“It was a learning curve today. It was the first CCS for three of them,” coach Josh Morales said of his team. “We’re already running low 21s now. Maybe next year, 20s, maybe 19s.”
Vanessa Farias finished 25th overall (20:33), Kristina Vasquez (21:08) and Elizabeth Moreno (21:10) finished in 40th and 41st, respectively, and Dayna Casillas finished 46th (21:17). Linnea Shorey crossed in 58th place (22:00) and Jessica Cook finished in 69th (22:27).
Lance Villasenor led the Haybalers with a 29th overall finish (16:49), and San Benito took seventh place with 217 points.
Carlmont once again nabbed first with 46 points, edging second-place Bellarmine’s 68. Alisal’s Diego Estrada took first overall by 27 seconds, clocking a 15:18.
“We had a good season this year,” Jess Morales said. “What we need to do is get back to the basics and train all summer. We’re a young team. I’m looking forward to next year.”
Eduardo Guzman was 33rd overall (16:53), Adrian Rodriguez finished 43rd (17:12), Jose Castillo crossed in 45th (17:16), Luis Ruiz was 67th (18:03), Curtis Wright finished 71st (18:06) and Erik Rodriguez was 79th (18:22).
In the end, Allen was the lone state meet qualifier for San Benito, which will be held on Nov. 24, just two days after Thanksgiving.
“I’m eating,” Allen said. “I’m pigging out.”
