After winning the Tri-County Athletic League last year and
earning spots in the Central Coast Section and state championships,
expectations are high for the San Benito High girls cross-country
team.
And they should be.
After winning the Tri-County Athletic League last year and earning spots in the Central Coast Section and state championships, expectations are high for the San Benito High girls cross-country team.
And they should be.
After losing only two senior runners – who were last year’s fifth-and-sixth best runners – coach Josh Morales expects the best from his young athletes.
“Basically what we are going to do is defend the TCAL championship and improve the J.V. and frosh. teams,” he said. “We are going to have a strong team like last year.”
The reason for his optimism is simple: Returning juniors, and team captains, Vanessa Estrada and Maura Forbush.
“They are doing great so far,” Morales said. “They are doing what we need to be doing to get better and stronger.”
The captains lead the team of around 20 girls through warm-ups and help push the team’s overall time during two-hour practices every day. In each practice, Estrada and Forbush are the center of everything girls cross-country.
“They are always rooting for their teammates and helping them out,” Morales said.
And that leadership role is something Estrada and Forbush cherish. They use their leadership position to push teammates into faster times.
“We train harder,” Estrada said. “It’s not just running further but also to build strength and conditioning.”
Estrada hopes that with harder training, faster times and a better season will come, she said.
“We want to do better,” she said. “We want to the whole team going to state.”
With that lofty goal, Estrada and Forbush run with both their teammates and the boys team.
“I want to get a strong foundation going into the year so I can run faster during the year,” Forbush said.
To do that, Forbush will continue to push herself hard leading up to the start of the season on Sept. 10 at the Condor Earlybird Invitational at Salinas’ Toro Park.
But the biggest highlight of the year will be the Balers’ first invitational on Oct. 1. The first Earthquake Invitational will invite some of the best teams in the state – including some from Southern California – to San Benito’s home course.
“This will give us some competition that we wouldn’t normally see,” Morales said. “It is more of the top schools for both girls and guys. Plus it’s always nice to stay home for a weekend.”
Morales hopes the tough competition will force his athletes to work harder and run faster – eventually improving their scores throughout the season.
“This will help us repeat as TCAL champions,” he said.
Inaugural San Benito Earthquake cross-country Invitational
The San Benito High cross-country program is asking for donations to help run its first invitational scheduled for Oct. 1.
Donations can be made to the Baler Backers or to boys coach Jess Morales. To donate contact Jess Morales at 831.801.4510.
