Morgan Hill
– Dean Raymond was scurrying about making certain things were
running smoothly Saturday at the fourth annual W.V.
”
Doc
”
Raymond Relays.
Morgan Hill – Dean Raymond was scurrying about making certain things were running smoothly Saturday at the fourth annual W.V. “Doc” Raymond Relays.
But he paused for a moment as he watched Juillard Robinson blaze around the track in 52 seconds in the 4×400 medley relay.
“Wow!” Raymond said, glancing at his watch. “Fifty-two seconds. And this is his first season out.”
Raymond could only wonder what it might have been like if Robinson, a senior, had been out for track before. And yet he could appreciate his efforts as well as those of the Armstrong sisters, Josh Levy and other Acorn athletes.
Levy, who ran a credible 2:14 in the 800 Saturday, is responsible for getting Robinson to come out for track this season. Levy ran his sophomore year, skipped his junior year and came out again as a senior. He encouraged Robinson to do the same, according to Raymond.
“What I’m excited about is he doesn’t even know how to run so he sees four guys in front of him and runs them down,” Raymond said of Robinson. “He doesn’t know his limitations.”
Salinas won both the boys and girls competitions. Live Oak was fourth in the boys and girls varsity meets. Sobrato was fifth in the girls and sixth in the boys.
A cool, windy day greeted the athletes. For the distance runners, it produced a double whammy as they finished running into a strong headwind.
Live Oak was first in the co-ed 4×400 hurdles. The Acorn boys also took first in the high jump, second in the long jump, and third in the 4×200 relay and weightmen relay.
The Acorns’ 4×400 hurdles team consisted of Armando Rodriguez, Stephanie and Katie Armstrong, and Nick Sosebee. The high jump team included Robinson, Scott Lindstrom and Sosebee.
Sobrato got solid efforts from Alan Rios and Abhi Devaraj. Rios ran 10:32.22 and was fourth among the boys 3,200 runners. Devaraj’s 12:44.30 was good for second and less than two seconds behind winner Kathleen Miller of Gilroy.
Raymond was disappointed that three schools who signed up to compete didn’t show up. But he was happy with the way the meet ran. The format was that every event was set up as a relay. Only the 12,800 run was broken down into individual times.
“It was a small field and it went smoothly,” Raymond said. “I think it’s nice format to bring team unity, where you have to depend on your teammates. It brings a sense of camaraderie.
“I was pleased with the efforts of our team. We are young and to place fourth in the boys and girls is encouraging.”
In the frosh-soph division, Live Oak finished second in the girls and seventh in the boys. Sobrato was second in the boys and sixth in the girls.
Live Oak splits
The Acorns split their duel meet with Willow Glen on Thursday, with the girls winning 69-56 and the boys losing 87-37.
Courtney Robinson was a double winner for the Acorn girls, taking the 200 in 28.2 and the long jump in 13-2. Other winners were Stephanie Armstrong in the 100 high hurdles, 17.55; Jennifer Lima in the 400, 1:12.53; Pauline Olsen in the 800, 2:33.06; Kate Lowe in the high jump, 4-8; and Sarah Lopez in the triple jump, 31-6.
