Vasquez has two top-5 finishes; Schroeder ties for second in
vault
Saratoga – San Benito’s Rigo Vasquez battled a familiar foe and had another successful day with his performance Saturday at the West Valley Relays.
Vasquez was second in the 1,500 meters, finishing behind only Alisal’s Diego Estrada – the same runner who finished ahead of the Haybaler senior in the Tri-County Athletic League and Central Coast Section cross-country championships.
His time of 4:05.44 was more than three seconds off Estrada’s first-place time. Santa Clara’s Vince Rodriguez was right behind Vasquez at 4:05.49.
Vasquez also took fifth in the 800 meters with his time of 1:59.91.
In the boys pole vault, defending state qualifier Josh Schroeder cleared the 15-foot mark once again to finished tied for second in the event with Los Gatos’ Nico Weiler. Silver Creek’s Ryan Saldivar-Ellison was first at 15-6.
San Benito’s Billy Woods was seventh, clearing 11-0. Chris Koroluk had a solid day in the triple jump, taking sixth with a mark of 40-5. Anthony De La Cerda took fourth in the high jump at 6-0, finishing two inches behind the winner, Rob Pappas of Leigh. Jamil Lee was just behind De La Cerda, taking sixth at 5-10.
David Bryant was 12th in the long jump at 19-0, where Cerda also competed and finished 15th at 18-7.
The ‘Baler boys were solid in the relays, taking fourth in the 4×400, seventh in the 4×1600, eighth in the 4×100 and ninth in the 1,600 sprint medley.
Junior hurdler Austin Schmidt had a pair of top-10 finishes. He was seventh in the 110 meters at 16.56 and 10th in the 400 at 60.68.
On the girls side, sophomore Courtney Allen paced the ‘Baler distance runners. She took seventh in the 3,000 meters at 11:16.72 and 13th in the 1,500 meters at 5:11.01.
Morgan O’Laughlin, who took first in the discus last week at the St. Francis Carnival Invitational, placed fourth in this meet with her toss of 107-5. Milpitas’ Kathryn Daniels won the event at 126-6.
