With the boys’ 4×400 relay team and Scott Medina in the
300-meter hurdles having each controlled top-10 times in the state
at one point this year, the possibility of advancing past Friday’s
preliminary round and into Saturday’s finals is a very real one for
the Balers.
HOLLISTER
This is no icing-on-the-cake type of meet for the San Benito boys’ track and field team.
This weekend’s CIF-State Championships carries with it a different feel than past seasons.
“It’s a great feeling to go, but we know we can run a better time,” said senior Jason Roascio, who will be the anchor leg for the team’s state-ranked 4×400 relay.
“If we can,” he added, “it looks like more of a possibility to make it to the second day.”
Which is the overall goal, of course, although not one that is necessarily realistic each and every season.
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But with the boys’ 4×400 relay team and Scott Medina in the 300-meter hurdles having each controlled top-10 times in the state at one point this year, the possibility of advancing past Friday’s preliminary round and into Saturday’s finals is a very real one for the Balers.
Although neither currently figures into the top 10 in the state, Medina’s best time of 37.99 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles this season is ranked 14th in California, while the 4×400 relay team’s best time of 3:19.88 is currently positioned 23rd — top times that should figure the Balers more as contenders at this year’s state competition.
“It gives you a little more hope,” Roascio said.
“Last year, we weren’t as highly ranked in the 4×400,” said David Kret, who runs the second leg of the 1,600-meter relay, along with Roascio, Medina and Steven Hernandez.
“In a way, it’s a confidence booster,” he added.
Reaching those season-best times won’t be easy, although the elite competition provided at the state championships is sure to supply a performance boost.
Injuries have been at the forefront for the Balers for the better part of the season, with Roascio and Medina each experiencing a lengthy list of pain and discomfort.
Roascio has compartment syndrome in his lower right leg, which has since extended a pain into his right foot, while Medina, who broke his right foot last season, and has been experiencing discomfort with it recently, has a strained left hamstring and a pain in his left foot that he believes may be broken.
But with the finality of a competition like the state championships, the two sprinters are prepared to literally run through the pain one last time.
“You’ve got nothing else to lose now,” Roascio said.
“If you don’t run hard, it will be your last race,” added Medina, whose best time in the 300 hurdles, as well as the best time of the 4×400 relay team, aren’t far from a qualifying bid to the national championships, which will take place in North Carolina and are very much on San Benito’s radar.
“It’s all or nothing at this point,” Medina said. “You don’t want to have any regrets.”
Junior Krystal Alnas will be making the trip to Clovis on Friday, too. Although with another year of competition, the discus thrower is looking to take in the state experience, and let whatever happens happen.
“I’m still going all out, but it’s about knowing what I have in store (for next year),” said Alnas, who finished second in the Central Coast Section last week after a toss of 123-0. Her season-best throw is 124-0.
“I’m nervous because I know there will be a lot of competition, but I’m really excited for the experience,” she added. “I’m gonna be throwing against some elite throwers and I’m gonna see how it is for next year.”
The CIF-State Track and Field Championships will be held at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis, on the campus of Buchanan High School. Field events begin Friday at 3 p.m., with track events slated to start at 5 p.m. On Saturday, field and track events will begin at 4:30 and 6 p.m., respectively.
