San Benito athletes gain experience at prestigious meet
San Benito’s Josh Schroeder is still existing in some semblance of anonymity, thanks largely to St. Francis’ Casey Roche.
And while Roche stole the show Friday at the Stanford Invitational track and field meet, Schroeder turned some heads as well.
The Haybaler senior cleared 15-feet, 6 inches in the pole vault competition, good for second place in an event considered one of the tops in the area. Roche, who took third in the state last season, won the event and set a meet record when he cleared 16-6.
“There were a lot of elite guys from the state there,” said Julio Trinidad, San Benito’s vaulting and head girls coach. “That might’ve been a preview of the state meet.”
Schroeder set the school record a day earlier, when he cleared 15-9 1/4 in a dual meet against Palma. After qualifying for the state meet last season, Schroeder appears a lock for a repeat trip and is performing with confidence.
“He’s coming after it,” Trinidad said. “He kind of let everybody know that he exists.”
Also competing in the Stanford Invitational was distance runner Rigo Vasquez. He clocked a time of 4:25.04 in the 1,600 meters to place 22nd.
Carlmont’s Brad Surh won the event with his time of 4:14.31.
The ‘Balers 4×800 relay team took 19th, clocking a time of 8:25.74.
In other track and field action, San Benito freshman and sophomores competed in the Frosh/Soph Top 8 Classic at Los Gatos High. The top-eight finishers in each event qualified for the Top 8 meet, where they’ll compete with the top varsity athletes.
Among the top finishers were Evan McFadden (first in 65 hurdles); Ryan Shorey (first in 400 meters, first in 200 meters); Sam Stephens (fourth in discus, eighth in shot put); Ellen Dungy (tied for fifth in high jump); Jennifer Temperino (fourth in discus); Justine Hunter (seventh in triple jump); Tara Bugarin (third in shot put). The ‘Balers boys 4×400 relay team took second place.
Schroeder and Vasquez will both travel to Arcadia this weekend for another elite-level competition, the Arcadia Invitational. The rest of the team will compete at the Don Bell Quicksilver Classic at Leland High.
