Sobrato boys break personal records in big section finale
BELMONT — When he was not having his best day, Alan Rios found solace in thinking about his next cross country meet; there was always another one.
Although helpful, this strategy comes with a price.
“When you’re in pain, when it’s just not your race, you think about getting it back next time,” Rios said. “But a part of you turns off, and you don’t have a good race.”
Rios had no meets to look ahead to Saturday. A middle-distance track star by trait, the Sobrato senior toed the starting line at the drizzly Central Coast Section Championships in Belmont with added spring in his step, then ran one of the best races of his life.
Rios attacked Crystal Springs’ uninviting hills without reserve on the way to placing 21st out of 111 runners in 16 minutes, 10 seconds, his best time ever on the 2.95-mile course.
“No regrets,” said Rios, who added he does not plan to run cross country in college. “When it’s your last race … what do you got to lose?
“I had that feeling go through my head again, when the pain gets to you, and I just said, ‘No, I’m not going to let bad thoughts ruin this race for me.'”
Rios’ five teammates who finished followed his lead in the Division II final. Each clocked new personal-record times, helping the Bulldogs place 12th with 268 points.
“It’s the best we could have asked for,” Sobrato coach Dave Wolfsmith said. “Everyone did their best.”
It was a refreshing way to end the season for the Bulldogs, who, in years past, have been plagued with injuries, illness and sheer misfortune in big meets.
“We have not been on the lucky side,” said Winston Van Keulen, who ran in place of an injured Rios at last season’s CCS final. “The first couple of meets this year, everyone was doing good. Even the JV guys were PRing every time.”
At the Blossom Valley Athletic League Finals meet two weeks ago, Sobrato placed well albeit with unfavorable times.
“We’ve gone in prepared every single time for meets. But different factors beyond our control hurt us,” said Rios, who sat out last year’s CCS finals with injury. “Like at BVALs, it was just a hot day. No one was feeling it.
“The fact that we haven’t been able to race our best top to bottom definitely pushed us today.”
Van Keulen, a junior, finished second for the Bulldogs and 37th overall in 16:42. Seniors Mitch Schenkelberg (17:02) and Bruce Pham (18:11) followed in 55th and 92nd behind junior teammate Derek Deisenroth (17:40), who placed 77th.
“I tried to hold myself to do my best,” Schenkelberg said.
Freshman Ryan Corvese (18:45) rounded out the Bulldogs’ finishers in 99th.
Sarah Gilbert (19:13) dropped more than a minute off of her previous best time in the girls Division II meet, but the Sobrato sophomore wasn’t satisfied.
Gilbert was hoping to qualify individually for state finals, a goal she and classmate Courtney Ellenberg (19:52) share for 2010. The Lady Bulldogs’ top finishers placed 18th and 33rd out of 117 Saturday.
“I’m happy with the time I got, but it’s still a little disappointing,” Gilbert said.
“I plan to work hard this summer and get better,” said Ellenberg, who shaved a few seconds off her last PR.
Senior Rachel Sandberg crossed in 21:11 to take 75th, Cassandra Valenzuela (21:56) followed in 88th, senior Ashley Sandberg (22:12) was 93rd, Emily Thoms (22:15) placed 95th and Kylie Foster (25:30) took 113th.
The Live Oak girls team had a rough outing in the Division III final. Seniors Renee Dominguez (21:30) and Pauline Olsen (22:09), two remaining members of Live Oak’s Santa Teresa Division-title winning team in 2007, placed highest for the Lady Acorns in 53rd and 67th.
“It wasn’t a good day,” Dominguez said. “I didn’t warm up enough and I went out too fast.”
Junior Chelsie Faulk crossed in 22:33 to take 74th, and freshman Moriah Taylor (28:31) finished 99th, also for the Lady Acorns.
Representing Live Oak’s boys team, junior Adam Groen (18:30) placed 74th in a field of 93.
