Balers shine at Quicksilver Classic on Saturday
— the team’s last meet prior to Wednesday’s TCAL showdown with
rival Salinas
SAN JOSE
The benefits of competing in the Don Bell Quicksilver Classic on Saturday were two-fold for the San Benito track team: One, it allowed the Haybalers to shake off any rust after having not competed as a team in more than two weeks; and two, it acted as one final test before Wednesday’s Tri-County Athletic League showdown with rival Salinas.
Yes, the Cowboys were definitely on the minds of most who competed at San Jose’s Leland High School on Saturday — perhaps not much of a surprise after last season’s instant classic in Hollister that saw Salinas leapfrog the Balers in the final event to swipe a 71-65 victory.
The dual meet only acted as a precursor for the TCAL Championships, which Salinas won by just 10 points over San Benito.
“We’re gearing up for Salinas,” said junior Jose Castillo, mere moments after he took first place in the 1,600 meters at Don Bell with a 4:33.72. “I’m not gonna take Salinas for granted. I know they can compete, but Wednesday is practically TCAL finals. That’s how I look at it.
“We’re gonna show them what we’ve got as a team.”
And after Saturday’s showing in San Jose, what San Benito has is certainly strong enough to compete for a TCAL title, a crown it had earned seven years in a row up until last season.
Behind 15 top-three performances, including seven first-place finishes, the Baler boys compiled 132.5 points on Saturday and grabbed the top spot with considerable ease when they defeated runner-up Deer Valley (41 points) by nearly 92 points.
First-place standings came from Castillo (4:33.72 in 1,600 meters), Jason Roascio (22.98 in 200), David Kret (1:59.80 in 800), Scott Medina (40.53 in 300 hurdles, 6-03 in high jump), Eddie Guzman (9:42.52 in 3,200) and the boys’ 4×400 relay team, which clocked a come-from-behind victory over Live Oak in 3:28.95.
A strong showing, for sure. But it was the latter two events — the 3,200 and the 4×400 relay — that decided last season’s meet with Salinas; After the Balers managed to sweep the 200 meters, Salinas followed with a sweep of the 3,200 meters, then held off San Benito late in the 4×400 to claim the narrow dual-meet victory.
Entering Wednesday, Guzman said the long-distance harriers, including Kret and Castillo, will need to be more strategic in their running.
“[Salinas] did take a bunch of points in the distance races (last year),” said Guzman, who was third in the 1,600 on Saturday with a 4:34.19. “We need to break it up. We need to score some points so they don’t get a lead on us.”
San Benito’s high-scoring effort on Saturday also showcased Roascio (2nd, 100 meters, 11:44) and Kret (3rd, 400, 52:43) for a second time, while Eddie Valencia (2nd, pole vault, 11-0), Enrique Ramos (2nd, shot put, 48-09 1/2) and Frankie Martinez (3rd, shot put, 46-03; 2nd, discus, 136-10) scored plenty of points for the Balers in the field events.
“It was a big confidence booster, to see what we did today,” Guzman added. “We’re gonna try and beat it or match it against Salinas.”
Wednesday’s TCAL dual means plenty for the Lady Balers as well, although perhaps under different circumstances. The girls team went undefeated in the TCAL last season en route to its third straight league title. So while the Baler boys are looking to avenge their loss to Salinas, Salinas — and everyone else, for that matter — will be looking to avenge their loss against San Benito.
“That’s usually a big meet for us,” said senior Melisah Cortez, who finished fifth in the 400 meters on Saturday in 1:01.08. “It’s big, but (coach Laurie) Cottrell told us that North Salinas is really strong, too. So we have to see what North Salinas does, as well as Gilroy.”
The Lady Balers compiled 25 points on Saturday to take eighth place overall at the Quicksilver Classic, with Deer Valley earning the top spot with 82 points.
But while pole vaulter Sophie Coelho was the lone Lady Baler who competed at the Stanford Invitational on March 27 — Coelho recorded an 8-0 in the event on Saturday to take seventh place — Saturday’s Quicksilver Classic was the first meet for the majority of the girls team since competing in a March 25 dual meet against Everett Alvarez.
“It was difficult. But with the training we’ve had in the two weeks off, we were able to get out of it and be ready for today,” said Cortez, who also finished 14th in the 800 at 2:35.71.
“I think we did a good job,” Cortez added. “A lot of girls stepped up.”
Indeed. Freshman Maura Forbush was second in the 3,200 meters in 12:22.55, sophomore Melissa Castro was third in the high jump at 4-10 and fellow sophomore Krystal Alnas was sixth in the shot put at 32-06 1/2. Jennifer Temperino was also sixth in the discus at 96-10, while the girls 4×400 relay team took third in 4:18.32.
“Everyone did what they needed to do,” Cortez said.
Which is exactly what it will take for the Lady Balers, and the Baler boys, to defeat Salinas on Wednesday.
Said San Benito coach Iran White, “This is our last little tune-up before Salinas, which will be our biggest meet of the season so far.”
San Benito will also compete at the Bill Kearney Invitational in Salinas on Saturday. Field events begin at 8:30 a.m., while track events will commence at 9:30 a.m.
