In its first Tri-County Athletic League dual meet of the season, the San Benito boys track & field team overwhelmed host Gilroy in what amounted to a test-run for the Haybalers. With Palma set to visit Hollister next Thursday, the ‘Balers knew they needed a confidence-building win, and got one, defeating the Mustangs 80-56.
“It’s seeing what we’ve got for teams later in the season,” said San Benito senior Kyle Bambrick. “We’re assessing how we’re doing so we can go up against [the Chieftains] next week.”
When firing on all cylinders, San Benito felt it should beat the Mustangs by an even larger margin, but the visitors were content to score a team victory in the bitter cold yesterday.
A disqualification in the opening 4×100-meter relay, a narrow loss in the 1600-meter race and an off day at the pole vault meant that the ‘Balers kept Gilroy hanging around. But when they needed to, the ‘Balers seemed to be able to dial up victories.
Midway through the meet, San Benito head coach Iran White approached long-jumper Sammy Hernandez and told him just how many feet he needed to jump to ensure a ‘Baler first-place finish.
“I went over there and said, ‘Sammy, I need a 19,'” related White. “And he said, ‘I’ve never done it before, but I’ll do my best, coach.'”
Hernandez delivered a victory, leaping 18-feet, 11.5 inches.
His teammate, Jeff Weltz, needed no such encouragement.
Hours after having a cast on his right arm removed, the senior took the track in the 100-meter race and knew what he needed to do.
“I didn’t really need to place,” said Weltz. “I needed to win.”
He, too, came up big–blowing down the straightaway in 11.65 seconds to beat the field. Weltz followed up with a second-place finish in the 200-meter, falling .05 seconds short of Gilroy’s Steven Heisey.
Weltz knew he wasn’t in peak form, but was thrilled to finally get on the track.
“I wanted to get out for the first couple of meets, but I couldn’t,” said Weltz. “It’s been pretty stressful. I think I came out pretty good. I have little things to work on–the starts, the finishes, the strides. I’m just going to have to work at it.”
After losing to Gilroy’s Arnulfo Velasquez by .01 in the 1600-meter race, San Benito’s Rigo Vasquez beat the Mustang by more than two seconds to take first in the 3200-meter.
Bambrick starred throughout the afternoon for the ‘Balers, notching victories in the 400-meter and 800-meter races, and running a leg of the 4×400-meter relay.
The San Benito senior said the meet was a job well done by the Haybalers, but knew his team would need to be at its best to handle Palma next week.
“I expect them to be the toughest team we’re going to face this season,” said Bambrick.
