Haybaler track and field teams eye yet another TCAL title,
looking to make a run at CCS championship
HOLLISTER
If any team in the Tri-County Athletic League wants to earn the league crown this year, they’ll have to pry it from the hands of San Benito first.
With the Lady ‘Balers having earned two straight TCAL titles, the ‘Baler boys now have a league championship for every day of the week, winners of seven straight. And while another TCAL title is certainly on the radar for both teams – at this point, it’s always on the radar – the San Benito boys are thinking of a Central Coast Section title as well, which would be a first for Hollister.
“We come in with a goal of winning CCS,” boys coach Iran White said last week. “But it’s easier said than done.”
The Haybalers do know what’s at stake, though, having returned plenty of track talent from last year’s team. But before they’ll be able to match up with the best of the CCS, they’ll have to stave off the best efforts of Salinas, Gilroy, North High, Palma and the up-and-coming Everett Alvarez Eagles.
“We expect to win,” White said, “but we don’t take anything for granted.”
Senior and returning state-qualifier Ryan Shorey, who set a personal record in the 400 at the CCS Track and Field Championships last year with a mark of 49.39 seconds, is already raising the bar this year as well, despite what the calendar says.
Shorey’s goal coming into this season is to break into the 47’s in the 400, while his ultimate aspiration is to shatter 47 seconds even. Already at an all-comers meet in Los Gatos, Shorey clocked a 50.49, the third fastest time in the section to date.
“I just need the competition in order to do it,” Shorey said. “Someone to push myself against.”
Shorey will lead a ‘Baler boys team that is expected to excel in the sprints (Mitchell Cook), the middle distances (Felipe Davila. Nik Soza and Jason Roascio), the long distances (Eddie Guzman, Jose Castillo and Frankie Rivera), the hurdles (Scott Medina and Justin Williams) and the throws (Sam Stephens, Robert Pinedo and Frankie Martinez).
Senior hurdler Evan McFadden, meanwhile, will compete in both the 110 and 300 hurdles, but also picked up long jump this season and recorded an 18-06 at the West Valley Relays last weekend.
“A lot more confidence,” McFadden said of himself compared to last year, when he finished third in the TCAL in the 110 hurdles (15.33). Although he’s been bothered by an early-season hip injury, McFadden feels he’s closer to the top than he was last season.
“But I still have a lot more work to do,” he said. “I still have to work to stay near the top.”
Staying near the top may be easier for the Lady ‘Balers this season, as second-year coach Laurie Cottrell returns to the helm.
“We had to rebuild last year. Now we’re functioning together,” said Cottrell, whose Lady ‘Balers finished first out of 24 teams at the West Valley Relays last weekend. “The girls know my expectations.
“We don’t have to do a lot of teaching because we did that last year. Now we’re just focused on the technique.”
San Benito is even recording PR’s at practice. Said Cottrell, “They’re competing against each other. They’re practicing and they’re having fun.”
Returning plenty from last year’s title-winning team, San Benito should be anchored by its long-distance contingent this year, which includes cross country state qualifiers Courtney Allen and Rachel Shimabukuro.
Just last weekend at the West Valley Relays, for instance, Allen finished second in the 1,500 (4:52.77) and third in the 3,000 (10:55.30), while Shimabukuro was fifth in the 3,000 (11:16.73).
“The distance runners are always top notch,” Cottrell said.
The Lady ‘Balers should also see some support from freshman Melissa Castro, who will compete in the 200, 300 hurdles and high jump, three events she finished first in during San Benito’s convincing TCAL-opening victory against Alisal on March 12.
“I just want to try my best and get to TCAL’s and CCS and just do well,” Castro said.
In the 100, San Benito returns Kelsey Russell, Sophie Coelho and Meghan De La Torre, while Monique Lassaga returns to the 200 and Chelsea Emilio and junior Melisah Cortez are back in the 400.
“It seems like we’re working harder (this year). Our coaches are on us,” Cortez said. “And our freshman girls are strong as well. They’re stepping up a lot.”
San Benito’s stranglehold on the pole vaulting competition is strong as well. At last year’s TCAL’s, the Lady ‘Balers finished first (Natalie Becker), second (De La Torre), third (Lassaga) and fourth (Coelho) in the pole vault, and will return all four this year.
Building team unity as well as a strong program is what San Benito has focused on in recent years, and heading into this season, with enough TCAL titles to go around, the team’s bond is undeniable.
“We want to win TCAL, for sure. That was really exciting,” Cortez said. “Since I was part of that last year, I want to do it again so our freshmen experience it as well.”
WEST VALLEY RELAYS
GIRLS
TEAM (TOP 10 ONLY)
1, San Benito, 61.50; 2, Aptos, 60; 3, Leigh, 53; 4, Mitty, 50; 5, Saratoga, 44; 6, Evergreen Valley, 40; 7, Homestead, 34.5; 8, Westmont, 27; 9, Valley Christian, 26; 10, Menlo-Atherton, 24.
INDIVIDUAL (SAN BENITO ONLY)
100 – 1, A. Martinez, Willow Glen, 12.85; 14, K. Russell, San Benito, 13.88. 800 – 1. C. Huang, Lynbrook, 2:24.06; 13, M. Duarte, San Benito, 2:37.80. 1,500 – 1, J. Bergman, Valley Christian, 4:52.10; 2, C. Allen, San Benito, 4:52.77; 15, M. Duarte, San Benito, 5:24.85; 20, D. Casillas, San Benito, 5:35.20; 24, V. Farias, San Benito, 6:05.71. 3,000 – 1, C. Huang, Lynbrook, 10:48.76; 3, C. Allen, San Benito, 10:55.30; 5, R. Shimabukuro, San Benito, 11:16.73. 100 Hurdles – 1, H. Goranson, Valley Christian, 14.65; 10, A. Banuelos, San Benito, 17.73; 20, E. Dungy, San Benito, 20.43. 400 Hurdles – 1, E. Gordon, Santa Clara, 63.55; 9, A. Banuelos, San Benito, 78.08; 14, E. Dungy, 1:21.99. 4×100 – 1, Mitty, 49.94; 4, San Benito, 52.61. 4×400 – 1, Saratoga, 4:14.89; 5, San Benito, 4:23.23. 4×1,600 – 1, Aptos, 21:59.19; 2, San Benito, 23:15.31. 4×1,600 Medley – 1, Leigh, 4:18.13; 3, San Benito, 4:26.75. High jump – 1, H. Downing, Aptos, 4-10; 2, M. Castro, San Benito, 4-10; 4, E. Dungy, San Benito, 4-08. Pole vault – 1, C. L’Heureux, Santa Clara, 9-06; 5, M. De La Torre, San Benito, 8-0; 6, S. Coelho, San Benito, 8-0; 7, M. Lassaga, San Benito, 7-06. Long jump – 1, A. Artaidi, Mitty, 16-08; 12, H. Moheyuddin, San Benito, 14-03 ½; 13, C. Emilio, San Benito, 14-03 ¼. Triple jump – 1, S. Evans, Leigh, 37-09; 11, H. Moheyuddin, San Benito, 30-00 ¼. Shot put – 1, M. McKee, Santa Teresa, 41-10; 11, T. Bugarin, San Benito, 28-09; 12, C. Pate, San Benito, 28-09. Discus – 1, M. McKee, Santa Teresa, 127-07; 14, T. Bugarin, San Benito, 88-07.
BOYS
TEAM (TOP 10 ONLY)
1, Evergreen Valley, 65; 2, Castro Valley, 58; 3, Mitty, 56; 4, Scotts Valley, 47.5; 5, Aptos, 44.5; 6, Bellarmine, 40; 7, Everett Alvarez, 37; 8, Milpitas, 35; 9, San Benito, 32; 10, Saratoga, 25.
INDIVIDUAL (SAN BENITO ONLY)
100 – 1, D. Rosby, Castro Valley, 11.33; 12, M. Cook, San Benito, 11.77; 15, J. Williams, San Benito, 11.87. 800 – 1, R. Hunt, Aptos, 1:58.27; 14, D. Kret, San Benito, 2:05.57; 20, Ryan Shorey, San Benito, 2:06.84; 33, J. Rendon, San Benito, 2:17.48. 1,500 – 1, D. Gradone, Aptos, 4:05.62; 8, F. Rivera, San Benito, 4:20.99; 15, E. Guzman, 4:32.14; 22, J. Rendon, San Benito, 4:40.38. 5,000 – 1, K. Liao, Evergreen Valley, 16:08.66; 5, J. Castillo, San Benito, 17:08.92; 7, S. Hernandez, San Benito, 17:33.10. 110 Hurdles – 1, J. Campbell, Mitty, 15.27; 5, E. McFadden, San Benito, 16.30; 18, B. Curiel, San Benito, 19.41. 400 Hurdles – 1, M. Skinner, Everett Alvarez, 55.0; 9, J. Williams, San Benito, 62.32; 10, S. Medina, San Benito, 62.79; 16, B. Curiel, San Benito, 64.25. 4×100 – 1, Castro Valley, 43.83; 5, San Benito, 45.17. 4×400 – 1, Castro Valley, 3:30.86; 5, San Benito, 3:37.48. 4×1,600 – 1, Willow Glen, 18:03.82; 4, San Benito, 19:32.20. 4×1,600 Medley – 1, Scotts Valley, 3:44.05; 9, San Benito, 4:01.69. High jump – 1, W. Welch, Everett Alvarez, 6-0; 8, S. Medina, San Benito, 5-06. Long jump – 1, B. Marshall, Valley Christian, 22-01 3/4; 9, E. McFadden, San Benito, 18-06 ¼; 19, L. Haro, San Benito, 17-02 ¼; 23, B. Lenoir, San Benito, 16-10 ½; 25, D. Coates, San Benito, 16-07 ¾. Triple jump – 1, D. Taylor, Evergreen Valley, 43-0 ¼; 15, W. Evans, San Benito, 35-09. Shot put – 1, N. Wright, Mitty, 51-08; 8, S. Stephens, San Benito, 43-05 ¼; 15, F. Martinez, San Benito, 41-09.
