Large group of local athletes qualify for Thursday’s BVAL
Finals
CAMPBELL — The Bulldogs failed to bring home Sobrato High School’s first team title in track and field but made a strong enough showing at Thursday’s Santa Teresa Division Finals to earn a program-best second-place finish in league.
They were runners-up in points behind Willow Glen, which entered the two-day meet at Westmont High School tied with Sobrato at 6-1 in Santa Teresa duals. The Rams made their move in the distance events, capturing four of the top-five invites to Blossom Valley Athletic League Finals in the mile and two mile, plus two more in the 800 meters.
Willow Glen finished first in the eight-team meet with 120 points, followed by Santa Teresa (67.5), Piedmont Hills (63) and Sobrato (62). Live Oak scored 58.25 to place fifth.
“At these meets, points are very difficult to come by,” SHS coach Fred Rios said Friday. “The boys still had a great showing. I think, teamwise, our top guys advanced just as we expected them to. We should do well at BVALs.”
The Bulldogs came away with three individual titles and 10 invites to this Thursday’s BVAL Finals at Mount Pleasant High School.
Senior Alan Rios earned the first of what could be a triple crown of division, league and section titles in the 800, crossing in one minute, 57 seconds to edge Willow Glen’s Joseph Rivera by less than two seconds.
Rios is set for a showdown Thursday with Pioneer’s Nathan Strum, the fastest 800 runner in the Central Coast Section this spring.
“Alan had a respectable time,” Fred Rios said. “He pretty much ran the race up front the whole time, just trying to stay ready for the big meets after this. He feels good right now.”
Ralph Jackson sacked the 300-meter hurdles title in a personal-record 40.38 — less than four tenths of a second faster than Dylan Haysbert of Willow Glen. The Sobrato senior, at the time, held this season’s fourth fastest time in CCS.
Immediately afterward, Jackson sprinted to the second fastest time (22.69) in the 200 meters.
“It was great to see Ralph win that,” Fred Rios said.
Junior Austin Meldrum, one of the top five pole vaulters in the section, matched his personal-best 13 feet, 6 inches to win top honors handily.
Sobrato’s other BVAL Finals invites went to sophomore Obi Mbonu in the 100 meters (11.6), Joel Rueda in shot put (42-07) and Gabe Cheadle in triple jump (40-6 1/2). The Bulldogs also qualified both relays; Drew Glines, Mbonu, Rios and Jackson in the 400 meters (44.37), Thomas Yath, Mbonu, Rios and Jackson in the mile (3:39.06) and pole vaulter Brandon Mancini (11-06).
The latter foursome made the cut thanks to clutch performances by Glines and Marcus Patrick, who were thrown into the 4×400-meter relay after Rios exhausted his four events, and Jackson became ill Thursday. The replacement group placed fifth.
“That was a huge effort to help our team,” Fred Rios. “I was very proud of Marcus and Drew for stepping up.”
The girls from Live Oak High School had the best finish among local teams, scoring 63 points to place third behind Piedmont Hills (64.6) and champion Santa Teresa (186.60).
The Lady Acorns produced 12 BVAL Finals invites, five top-four finishes and one champion in high jumper Stephanie Armstrong (5-3), whose PR of 5-7 remains tops in CCS.
“Everyone who was supposed to make it to BVALs, made it,” LOHS distance coach Mike Sullivan said. “Some girls surprised us, too.”
Among those, Junior Chelsie Faulk broke through to a fourth-place finish in the 3,200 meters (12:45.26). Jada Williams turned heads as well, clearing 15-10 to qualify in long jump and 4-8 3/4 to advance in high jump. The freshman also made the cut in the 300 hurdles (49.58).
Senior Pauline Olsen impressed again the 400 meters, clocking 58.6 to place second. Her time of 26.86 in the 200 was good for fourth, one spot behind teammate Erika Rodriguez (26.19). Switching places, Rodriguez took fourth (1:00.39) in the 400.
Live Oak’s school-record holding 4×100 relay of Catherine Sparling, Lauren Drewniany, Olsen and Rodriguez improved its PR by a few more tenths to place second.
The Lady Acorns’ mile relay also advanced, finishing third (4:13.46).
Live Oak’s boys team will be entered in nine events at BVALs, including four for Jacob Daw. The junior won the high jump (5-10), took second in the 400 (52.16), and was part of a division-champion mile relay and second-place joined Eric Tolson, Taylor Alonzo and T.J. Ornduff in placing second in the 4×100.
“I would have had him do more events if I could,” Sullivan said. “He had an incredible meet.”
Ornduff qualified for BVALs in multiple events — 110-meter hurdles (16.64), 300 hurdles (42.98) — as did Jacob Montoya — 400 (52.37), 4×400 — and Nick Sosebee — high jump (5-8, long jump (20-1 1/2). Kean Vaziry advanced in the 400 (53.44).
The Lady Bulldogs will be represented Thursday by both relays, plus two-mile runner-up Sarah Gilbert (12:10.25), 100 sprinter Marissa Benjamin (13.25), high jumper Rebekah Inouye (4-8 3/4) and pole vaulter Jennifer Hinman (7-6).
Kate Van Keulen, Diamond Jankela, Cassandra Valenzuela and Benjamin will run the 4×100, with Jankela subbing out for the mile relay.
