For the second time in three years, the San Benito High cross country program made it a clean sweep in the Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division Championships. Last Saturday at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy, the boys and girls squads—despite not having a top-five individual finisher in the combined races (Gabilan and Pacific Divisions)—captured titles in workmanlike fashion.
Both teams toppled Salinas, with the boys earning a 42-49 decision and the girls narrowly winning, 37-40. Ryan Shorey, who is the co-coach along with Leanna Morgan, said it was truly an inspiring effort from both teams. At the start of the season, the boys weren’t expected to win league this year, not after losing its top three runners from a year ago.
However, the team has grown up even faster than Shorey expected. For the girls, expectations have been pronounced since the end of last season, when it finished one spot away from clinching a berth in the CIF State Championships. But an injury to top runner Elli Kliewer slowed the Balers down a bit late in the last few weeks, making for a rather close call with Salinas.
In the end, the Balers showed once again why they are the premier cross country program in the Tri-County and South Valley area.
“It was pretty sweet,” Shorey said. “Well deserved for both the boys and girls. They’ve worked so hard, starting with summer training. It’s really exciting knowing the best may be yet to come.”
Shorey said he and Morgan have held the girls back just a tad so they would enter their peak period at the CCS Championships, which take place Nov. 12 at the renowned Crystal Springs Course in Belmont. The girls are currently ranked ninth in the CCS, third among Division I teams.
They’ll need to finish either first or second to earn a berth to state. Last Saturday, the team’s top five runners all finished within 32 seconds of each other covering the 2.85-mile Christmas Hill Park course. Factoring in the combined results, Samantha Cortez finished sixth in 18 minutes, 41 seconds, Brianna Martin seventh in 18:47, Hailey Cross 10th in 19:02, Mariah Changco 13th in 19:11.60 and Kliewer 14th in 19:13.80.
“We haven’t seen the best from our girls yet,” Shorey said. “We’re definitely excited in getting ready to hit some really good times at Crystal Springs.”
For the boys, Elliot Ruiz placed seventh in 15:48.10, Joseph Loredo eighth in 15:49.70, Angel Cortes 10th in 15:55.40, Gerald Maresh 12th in 16:03 and Christian Casarez 33rd in 16:38. It’s remarkable that the boys are ranked 14th in the section and the girls ninth despite neither squad having an individual ranked among the top 25.
That speaks to the tremendous depth of the program, which routinely churns out productive runners every year. There is an unsung runner like Maresh, who was nowhere close to being one of the team’s top five scoring runners before the start of the season.
During a two-mile summer time trial, the sophomore was one of 14 runners in the 11 to 12 minute range. That meant Maresh was competing with 13 other athletes for a spot on the varsity squad.
“One day over the summer Gerald said he was going to make the varsity team,” Shorey said. “He had no doubt in his mind even though his initial times weren’t there. But he kept on driving the point home and made it happen. The mental aspect of Gerald staying toward the goal and putting in the work has been awesome.”
The girls have their own unsung standouts as well, starting with Cross. The sophomore is arguably the most consistent runner on the team, producing consistent finishes throughout the season.
“Hailey has definitely been one of our more consistent runners we’ve had, which is nice in our sport,” Shorey said. “She comes to practice everyday with an attitude to get stuff done. She’s truly the epitome of what you want in an athlete. She never complains, asks questions if something doesn’t feel right, is open to criticism if things need to be corrected, and she puts that in her heart to make herself better.”
