‘Balers win in final event, edge Salinas
Hollister – Moments before the final event of Wednesday’s track and field meet between San Benito and Salinas began, Haybalers boys coach Iran White learned that his team held only a three-point lead over the Cowboys.
With the winner of the 4×400 earning five points, that event became the decisive one. White quickly rushed down from the press box to the field to provide some last-minute motivation. And for the first two legs, it worked as San Benito held a sizable lead.
But Salinas took advantage on the third leg, making up nearly its entire gap to even things up for the fourth and final leg. ‘Balers’ star distance runner Rigo Vasquez took the baton for the final lap, but by the first turn he saw Salinas grab the lead.
Vasquez kept pushing and regained the lead by going to the outside on the final 100 meters and crossed the finish line in front to assure San Benito a 72-64 win.
“I had no choice but to go outside to the second lane,” said Vasquez, who also won the 800 meters and ran a steady pace with the four ‘Balers who comfortably took the top spots in the two-mile. “In that last 100 I just went with everything I got.”
For White, the win was a relief in a meet when he felt not everybody competed to their full capabilities.
“I think my guys needed this,” White said. “If they’re not going to be awake after this, they’re not going to wake up at all.”
While he was disappointed in the efforts in some events, White praised the distances runners, who swept the 800, one-mile and two-mile. The ‘Balers also took the top spot in the 400 meters, with Ryan Shorey clocking in at 53.22.
“The distances are going to be crucial next week,” said White, looking ahead to next week’s tough match against Palma and Notre Dame, “but it’s going to be a little harder.”
Jamil Lee had a strong performance in the long jump, recording a personal best mark of 19-10. Austin Schmidt also had a PR, recording a time of 15.9 in the 110-meter hurdles.
Josh Schroeder easily won the pole vault with his first jump of 13-0. He then moved it up to 15-0 and cleared that before attempting what would’ve been a PR at 15-4, but he came up short.
The girls team struggled throughout the afternoon and dropped a 92-44 decision.
Freshman Sophie Coelho provided one of the highlights with her victory in the 100-meter dash. She won the race with a time of 13.27.
The ‘Balers, led by Morgan O’Laughlin, had a strong day in the throwing competitions by sweeping the scoring in the discus.
“We didn’t have any real speed on the track,” girls coach Julio Trinidad said. “We did what we could.”
Sophomore Justine Hunter also had a strong meet, winning the high jump at 5-0.
“She’s holding her own in this league for being as young as she is,” Trinidad said.
Salinas’ Shannon McVey was impressive in winning the two-mile with her time of 11:58.6. San Benito’s Courtney Allen finished in 12:35.7.
