Riding a first place in the discus from Naomi Ruiz, the
Hollister High girls track and field team tied for first place at
Saturday’s Top 8 Meet at Los Gatos High.
LOS GATOS – Riding a first place in the discus from Naomi Ruiz, the Hollister High girls track and field team tied for first place at Saturday’s Top 8 Meet at Los Gatos High.
The Balers and Silver Creek each had 39 points. Although there is no team trophy presented, it was the first time any Hollister team has had at least a share of the Top 8 meet title in the 20-year existence of the meet. The Balers and Raiders broke a three-year girls champion reign by host Los Gatos.
“I was surprised we had won,” said Baler girls coach Jennifer Logue. “There were a lot of top girls from other schools. It shows that we can compete as a team at a higher level. That was good to see.”
Ruiz, the Central Coast Section leader at 133-0, won the discus with a toss of 119-5. That was 4-feet-4 past second place finisher Krisha De La Fuente of Presentation. Two likely challengers to Ruiz at the CCS meet on May 30 – Kalechi Amyanwu (Silver Creek-124-10) and Erin Becker (Independence-120-4) weren’t competing in Los Gatos on Saturday.
“I know there were a couple of good throwers missing tonight,” said Ruiz, whose first place brought 10 points. “If they were here, maybe I would have been forced to throw it farther. I’m happy I won, but I’m disappointed I didn’t throw over 120-0.”
“I really wanted those other girls to be there,” said Logue. “I wanted to see what Naomi could do under more pressure.”
Sarah Groman chipped in 10 points with a second place in the high jump at 5-2 and a fifth in the triple at 34-0 1/4. Groman has a PR of 5-4 and 36-9, respectively. Groman was eighth in the long jump with a leap of 15-4. Dani Andrewson, just a sophomore, was sixth in the triple at 33-0 1/2.
Sophomore Jamie O’brian sparkled in the 400 and 200 meter runs, garnering third places in each event. O’brian PR’d in each event, clocking a 59.77 in the 400 and 25.86 in the 200.
“O’brian showed that she’s a legitimate 400 and 200 runner,” said Logue. “She has a good chance to make it to state in both events, especially the 400.”
Stephanie Starritt bettered her school record in the pole vault with a vault of 11-0. Starritt just missed clearing 11-6 on her third try, which would have given her the win. Starritt, a senior, cleared 11-0 on her first try.
“It felt great to PR,” said Starritt. “I’ve been using different poles because I’m always trying to improve my form. I really want to make it to state. I’ll have to go, at least, 11-0 at CCS to make it.”
The vault by Starritt ties her with the second best mark in CCS this year.
The girls 4X400 relay team – consisting of Kory Case, Abby Ceja, Amanda Boyd and O’brian – was fifth with a time of 4:07.74.
“The Top 8 Meet is usually the meet where the 4X400 steps it up and they did,” said Logue. “And Amanda Boyd missed two weeks due to injury so she’s not quite at full strength. We can run better, but I was very happy with that time.”
The Baler girls were 10th in the 4X100 at 51.21. Andrewson replaced Case in that relay.
Baler boys
Steve Bianchi had a seasonal PR in the triple jump at 44-0 3/4 for fifth place and equaled his PR in the high jump for a tie for second with Julian Eison of Westmoor. Bianchi, competing in the TJ and HJ simultaneously, cleared 6-0 and 6-2 on his first attempts. Thomas Fernandez was ninth in the TJ at 42-0 1/2.
“Steve has been great for us all season,” said Baler boys coach Randy Logue. “As far as consistency goes, he has probably been our No. 1 guy.”
The Balers Danny Brooks cleared 6-0 on his final attempt for seventh. He nearly had 6-2 on his last go-round. The bar wobbled then steadied as if it were going to stay up, but fell off.
Justin Tungate had a tremendous race in the 300-meter hurdles, with a PR of 41.05. Tungate’s time was the third fastest in school history, according to Randy Logue. Tungate looked smooth as silk for the first four hurdles, especially.
“It was hard for me to see the other runners because I was on the outside,” said Tungate, who owns the school record for the 400-hurdles. “It was one of my best races, though.”
Clay Peer PR’d in the shot put with a heave of 47-7, good for fifth place.
“Clay’s been one of our hottest athletes,” said Randy Logue. “He’s coming on at the right time of the season.”
Jonathan Rivera found the competition stiff in the 800 and 1,600, but Rivera managed a PR in the 800 at 2:00.53 for 12th place. Rivera’s 1,600 meter run time of 4:33.65 was good for 10th.
Of the Baler boys’ two relay teams, the 4X400 fared best, placing fifth with a season best of 3:28.32. Comprising that team were Tungate, Tamar Elbanhawy, Chris Pratt and Bianchi. The 4X100 team of Armando Larez, Willie Sanchez, Pratt and Brooks clocked 45-flat for eighth.
The Baler boys and girls host Salinas this Thursday in what Randy Logue dubs, “a pivotal dual meet”.
Note: Saturday’s Pacific Grove Invitational was postponed due to rain and rescheduled for this Saturday.
