The San Benito High varsity track and field teams competed at
the Stanford Invitational last weekend along with more than 4,200
high school, college and professional runners, jumpers and
throwers.
The San Benito High varsity track and field teams competed at the Stanford Invitational last weekend along with more than 4,200 high school, college and professional runners, jumpers and throwers.
Competing in the events were past and present Olympic champions like Maurice Greene, world record holders and some of the finest college and high school track and field athletes in the nation.
Most of the high school events featured the leaders in this year’s California state track standings.
Many of the races also featured state champions from several states.
The Hollister girls 4 by 400 team continued to lower the season’s best time and placed 11th in the high school girls division with a time of 4:08.43.
Jonathan Rivera had a strong performance with a PR mile of 4:21.07 – one of the top CCS times. He was chasing an extremely strong field – the best he will face before the end of the season.
Jesse Rice almost equaled his season-ending time last year, by running 51.73 in the boys 400-meter race and finishing 17th.
The boys 4 by 400 meter relay team finished 20th with a time slightly slower than last week’s time.
Other competitors were Willie Sanchez in the 100 meter, Todd Merrigan in the pole vault, Mason Dungy in the pole vault, Chad Tungate in the 400 meter and Jeff Spencer in the mile.
The boys 4 by 100 meter relay and the boys 4 by 800 meter relay teams also competed.
Jamie O’Brian and Amanda Boyd ran the 400 meter, and the girls 4 by 100 meter relay team participated.
At the North Salinas High School Frosh-Soph Invitational, Todd Merrigan won the high jump with a jump of 5′ 10″, and was second in the pole vault at 10′ 6″.
Kyle Bambrick was third at 800-meter with a time of 2:10.5, and Francisco Faria was fifth in the high jump.
The Haybaler track and field teams will compete this coming Thursday at 3:30 p.m. against visiting Gilroy.
The Gilroy boys have a fine shot putter in sophomore Robert Best, who has thrown over 47 feet already this season.
The girls are led by sprinter Raquel Butler, who runs the 100 in less than 13 seconds.
