Continued highlights of Thursday’s LOHS-SHS dual and Saturday’s
Avis Kelley Invitational
MORGAN HILL — Hoping to spike his speed, strength and athleticism for the 2010 football season, junior outside linebacker T.J. Ordnuff took it upon himself to join the track and field team at Live Oak High School this spring.
So far, resisting the urge to tackle his competitors in sprints has been his only struggle.
“I have to convince myself not to,” said Ornduff, the Acorns’ 2009 leader in tackles (41) and sacks (4.5) among returning linebackers. “All I can think about is tackling the guys I’m against.”
In Thursday’s Santa Teresa Division dual meet at LOHS, it was teammate Taylor Alonzo and Sobrato running backs Ralph Jackson and Obi Mbonu; the latter of whom Ornduff will line up across from Sept. 17. Jackson, a senior, won both heats in the 100 and 200 meters, clocking a respective 11.1 and 23 seconds flat, and Mboni followed less than a tick later in second. Ornduff was happy to take third with personal-record times of 11.74 and 24.14 — he lost by an arm’s length.
“It’s scary to think he’s running as fast as running backs,” said Alonzo, a senior Z-back who played in two games last fall before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. “By the end of spring, he’s going to be one of the fastest guys on our team. He’s easily one of the best athletes at this school.”
Should he give up football, Ornduff could make for a promising decathlete in college. He has competed in as many as seven events this year and could make the cut for the Central Coast Section championship meet in the 400-meter relay and his specialty, the triple jump. He has leaped 40 feet, 11 inches this season.
“He’s extremely competitive,” Acorns distance coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s very talented, but he’s very raw. We’re excited to see where he’ll be once he gets his technique down.”
Ornduff didn’t muster a PR jump Saturday at the Avis Kelley Invitational in Garcia-Elder Sports Complex but still placed 14th (38-05 1/2). His 4×100-meter relay of Eric Tolson, Nick Sosebee and Alonzo clocked the sixth fastest time (45.53).
“I’m trying to do my best out here; do whatever it takes to be a better athlete,” Ornduff said. “I can’t wait for spring football. I want to make time for both sports.”
Jackson, whose Bulldogs (3-1) won 95-41, continued an impressive weekend Saturday at Avis Kelley, taking third in the 300-meter hurdles (41.55 PR) and sixth (51.74) in both the 400 and 200 (23.12).
“Ralph had a great meet,” Sobrato coach Fred Rios said. “He’s still getting his steps down in hurdles, but he’s doing fine with his speed and explosiveness.”
Teammate Winston Van Keulen finished fourth (10:10.97 PR) in the two mile, and Derek Deisenroth followed in 12th (10:37.15).
Taking a recovery break from the 800 meters, Sobrato’s Alan Rios placed fourth in the 400 in 51.22 and 12th in the mile (4:31.86). The senior is ranked No. 3 in the section in the 800 and seventh in the 400.
The LOHS boys’ biggest PR was provided by the mile relay — Tolson, Jacob Daw, Kean Vaziry, Jacob Montoya — which won its heat and placed second (3:31.92) overall. Among locals, that feat was surpassed only by SHS junior Austin Meldrum, who launched 13 feet to win in pole vault.
“If Austin can do that again at CCS, that’s going to take him far,” Fred Rios said.
Sosebee and Alonzo were part of an LOHS trio that placed high in long jump. Sosebee was 12th (19-00), Alonzo 13th (18-11 3/4) and Kenny Lee 14th (18-11 1/2 PR). Sosebee also placed 10th in high jump (5-06).
Bulldogs senior Joel Rueda led local throwers, finishing 12th in shot put (40-8 1/2) and 16th in discus (117-06).
