Ryan Shorey heading to state in 400 after 4×400 relay team was
disqualified at CCS finals
Gilroy
When it was over, all San Benito boys coach Iran White could say was “rollercoaster.”
In a turn of events that could only be described as an unfortunate up-and-down flight of emotion, the San Benito track team managed to send just Ryan Shorey to the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Friday.
Shorey will compete in the 400 meters, but that news didn’t come until well after the Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships wrapped up on Friday night at the Garcia-Elder Sports Complex in Gilroy.
Approximately one hour earlier, the boys 4×400 relay was being held and the Haybalers, seeking a top-three qualifying spot, entered with the second fastest time (3:26.55) from the previous week’s Semifinal meet.
They were up against the best of the section in Monterey, Riordan, Mitty and St. Ignatius, and the San Benito foursome – made up of Shorey, Ian Bambrick, Nik Soza and Silas De Vries – delivered their best time of the season. In fact, the team’s third-place finish of 3:23.97 not only had them going to state, but had them as the new school record-holders at San Benito High, breaking the previous record of 3:24.48.
But then, just a few minutes later, CCS officials informed the team that they were disqualified after committing two infractions during the race – both of which involved runners leaving their assigned lane for more than three steps.
“It happened. Now there is nothing we can do about it,” Shorey said. “It isn’t a complete disappointment. We still ran good and we unofficially broke the school record. We’ve just got to come back next year and avenge our loss.”
Moments following that news, though, San Benito got a quick pick-me-up. Earlier in the day, approximately two hours before the 4×400 race, Shorey finished fourth in the 400 meters with a time of 49.39, just outside of a state qualifying spot. It was a personal record for Shorey, who had been flirting with the 50-second mark all season.
But although that race concluded earlier in the evening, Shorey got news at the very end of the CCS finals that Monterey’s Joel Kemper, who finished first in the 400 in 48.61, would not be attending the state meet. Shorey, as a result, would go to the state championships in his place.
“I didn’t know what to say,” said Shorey after finding out about his state qualification. “I was speechless.”
The good news of Shorey’s qualification came minutes after the unfortunate developments on the 1,600-meter relay, but perhaps came not a moment too soon.
“We needed some good news,” White said. “I’m bummed about the 4×4 team because those kids deserved it. But those are the rules.”
As some consolation, three members of the relay foursome will return next year – De Vries is the lone senior – and will not be lacking in motivation.
“I’m still happy, but I’m pretty sad. We had a great season,” Soza said. “We still have next year. I’m proud of what we did.”
Meanwhile, senior Austin Schmidt made his first appearance at the CCS finals where he competed in the 300 hurdles and the long jump. Although he won’t be moving on to Norwalk, Schmidt seemed pleased that he made it to the section meet.
Schmidt finished seventh in the 300 hurdles in 40.58, and finished seventh in the long jump after a leap of 21-01 1/2.
“It’s disappointing because it’s my last year, but I can’t be too hard,” Schmidt said. “At least I made it here.”
Although the senior felt he couldn’t match the 38-second times in the 300 hurdles, Schmidt felt poised to take a top-six medal in the long jump. But after scratching his first two jumps – jumps that he put most of his energy into, he said – he simply focused on making his third jump count.
“I pretty much looked down at the board to make sure I didn’t scratch,” Schmidt said.
Courtney Allen, who took 11th last year in the 1,600 in 5:21.44, returned Friday in the one-mile race. Focused on staying with top-runners Taylor Johnson of San Lorenzo Valley and Marissa Ferrante of Aptos, Allen knew going in that the third lap would be make or break.
“They took off on the third lap and that’s the lap I need to work on the most,” said Allen, who finished 10th in 5:19.58. “I started to lose control of my breathing … It’s always gonna be hard to make it to state in track.”
With a love for cross country – Allen qualified for the state cross country meet in the fall – the San Benito junior will have one more year of eligibility to make state in track.
The boys 4×100 relay team will bring back three of its members next year as well, after it finished eighth in 43.62.
Falling approximately three-tenths short of breaking the school record (43.34), the relay team of Shorey, Mitchell Cook, Justin Williams and senior Chris Koroluk felt a record-breaking performance next season is definitely possible. As the team’s lone senior, however, Koroluk said he was disappointed.
“It’s nothing that it could have been, just more practice,” Cook said. “More practice could have been better.”
While it was unfortunate to know that the relay team could have broken the school record, Shorey added, it’s always something to strive for next year.
Said Williams, “It’s something that will stick with you.”
