Early-season victories at Co-Ed Relays bode well for ‘Balers’
hopes
Hollister – The San Benito track and field team is well on its way to having another outstanding season.
A year after the boys won the Tri-County Athletic League Championships and the girls finished a close second, the Haybalers look primed to earn a pair of crowns this year.
With seniors Todd Merrigan and Amanda Boyd returning for their senior seasons, San Benito is armed in star power, but it will be the depth of talent the team enjoys that should set it apart from many squads.
Last weekend, the ‘Balers won the varsity and frosh/soph divisions of the Co-Ed Relays at Leland High in San Jose. San Benito easily prevailed in last month’s Los Banos Scrimmage, but the Co-Ed Relays marked the team’s first true competition of the season.
The varsity boys, TCAL champions in three of the past four seasons, received an early boost with a decisive, meet-opening win in the 4×100-meter relay.
Boyd, like Merrigan, a State qualifier last season, kicked off her season with an impressive time of 2:22 in her leg of the 4×800-meter relay. Running against a boy, the ‘Balers’ senior standout gained 25 yards for her team and nearly caught her competitor.
San Benito head coach Iran White also commended the performances of Rigo Vasquez, Kyle Bambrick, Jackie Perrien and Dominique Flores.
With the Haybalers set to open their TCAL season with a dual meet at Gilroy tomorrow, White believes his team is prepared.
“They are ready to take on the league,” stated White.
The ‘Balers’ coach also noted the promise of youth as a factor that should bode well for his team now, as well as in the future.
“Regarding the team as a whole, we are quite young, with relatively few seniors, and well over half of our numbers being freshmen and sophomores,” commented White. “[The weekend’s meet] was the first time many of the younger kids participated in a ‘big meet,’ and the first time I got to see most of them perform in that type of environment. We are quite proud of their performcances.”
Sophomore Lauren Villasenor and freshman Ryan Shorey had encouraging showings in the 400-meter dash. Freshman Ian Bambrick and a trio of sophomores–Aaron Smith, Evie Betancourt and Megan Garratt–ran a strong 4×800-meter relay to pocket the victory.
Two sophomores scored big for the varsity team as well. Curtis Wright finished fourth in the 3200-meter competition, and Austin Schmidt took third in the 300-meter hurdles.
White couldn’t help but look to the future, as well as enjoy the strength his program enjoys at the moment.
“The entire team performed well,” related White. “Though our present is very bright, our future is likely even brighter.”
Scott Campbell is the sports editor of the Hollister Free Lance. You can reach him at (831) 637-5566 (x334) or at sc*******@fr***********.com.
