Balers senior Amy Quinones wrapped up a spectacular season with a 23rd-place finish in the Division I race in last Saturday’s CIF Cross-Country Championships at Fresno’s Woodward Park. Quinones, who completed the 3.0-mile course in 18 minutes, 39 seconds, was the fifth-best placer from the Central Coast Section. There were 199 runners in the field.
The San Benito boys capped off a fine season with a 20th-place finish. Junior Juan Gutierrez led the way with a 67th-place individual finish in 16:29, followed by junior Elijah Changco in 16:48, which was good for 97th. Other finishers included Jose Ruiz (112th in 17:03), Nolan Sanchez (125th in 17:20), Rene Nunez (128th in 17:23), Javier Azcona (129th in 17:30) and Jacob Morioka (137th in 17:48).
All-League Honors
San Benito High’s Marisa Villegas, a sophomore outside hitter, and Ally Murphy, a senior outside hitter, earned all-Monterey Bay League First-Team honors. Sophomore middle blocker Camille Finley and junior opposite Lexi Chavarria made the second team, and freshman middle blocker Annie Breger earned the sportsmanship award.
Coach Dean Askanas, who recently completed his 10th-year at the school, earned the Coach of the Year award. Several water polo athletes earned all-league honors as well; on the boys side, Charlie Garcia, a utility, was named the co-Senior of the Year, one of the biggest honors for the Pacific Division.
Senior goalie Treven Jones and senior utility David Werolin earned first-team honors, while senior two-meter Gus Spurzem, junior utility Jared Murdaugh and junior driver Cole Walker made the second team. Zach Fulcher, a senior driver, won a sportsmanship award.
For the girls, junior driver Grace Larson, senior two-meter Erin Hepner and junior two-meter/defender Hayleigh Smith earned all-Gabilan Division First-Team honors, while another trio of Balers made the second team: senior two-meter/defender Riley Drexler, junior driver Shannon Stephens and senior goalie Rachel Smithee. Senior two-meter/defender Heather Smith was the team’s sportsmanship award winner.
