Randy Logue lectured the Hollister High boys and girls
tracksters about the seriousness of Saturday’s Tri-County Athletic
League meet at Hartnell College.
Randy Logue lectured the Hollister High boys and girls tracksters about the seriousness of Saturday’s Tri-County Athletic League meet at Hartnell College.
Logue, the Baler boys head coach, knows that his team will be in a tough, head-to-head battle with Salinas for the team championship.
“We have more guys qualify for the finals than I thought we would have,” said Logue. “And some are moving up.”
For example, the Baler varsity qualified four in the 110-meter hurdles – Siljef Tabancay, Johnny DiSalvo, Matt Leal and Chris Wahl. That’s four of nine qualifiers, good odds for points on Saturday.
One Baler, in particular, has been moving up in leaps and bounds. Shot putter Clay Peer set a personal record in Wednesday’s trials at Andy Hardin Field with a mighty heave of 52-10 1/2. That’s the fifth best mark in the Central Coast Section this season.
Peer, who can squat 500 pounds, has improved his PR five feet in the past few weeks.
“That’s our coaching philosophy,” said Logue. “We want our athletes to peak right now. Clay has learned to use his legs.”
Other top boys marks from the trials included Thomas Fernandez, who fell back on at the long jump pit and still measured 21-4. Fernandez triple jumped 42-0. Steve Bianchi, second in CCS last year, went 42-10 1/2 in the triple. Lee Osborne, who is back after a hamstring injury, went 20-7 in the long jump and could be a factor in that event on Saturday. Osborne will not be entered in any running events.
Top girls marks were from Sarah Groman, who went 16-3 in the long jump and 34-0 1/4 in the triple jump. Amanda Boyd, just a freshman, went 15-9 in the long jump, a good mark for her age. Naomi Ruiz PR’d in the shot put at 35-8, a big improvement. Ruiz, who owns the leading discus mark in CCS at 133-0, threw the platter 129-11, another consistent throw.
Meanwhile, the running marks weren’t as impressive as runners often hold up and save themselves for the finals. All of the top Baler track and field performers will be on hand Saturday.
Logue is concerned about his 4X100 relay team, which has had trouble finishing races.
“The 4-by-100 relay will go a long way on determining how we do at the meet,” said Logue. “It sets the tone for the meet. If we don’t finish it, that’s like a knife in our back for the rest of the meet. Granted, Salinas and Palma are faster than us. But, we can take third and, even second, if one of thoses teams makes a mistake.”
The field events begin at 10 a.m. and the running events commence at 10:30 a.m. All finals for frosh-soph boys and junior varsity girls will be run, as well, with the exception of the 3,200 meters, which was run on Wednesday.
3,200-meter results for Baler runners:
Frosh-soph boys – 4. Matt Wynne 11:15.9. JV girls – 3. Ambur Cameron 14:02.4; 4. Divya Banesh 14.47.8; 5. Brenda Garibay 14:56.7.
