Wolfsmith, Rios, Meldrum, mile relay advance
GILROY — Sobrato’s Alan Rios had been looking forward to Saturday’s 800-meter run since last year, when he “robbed himself” of advancing at CIF-Central Coast Section Semifinals.
Rios’ goal was to make finals, and he missed it by less than three seconds.
“It was a hundred degrees out, and I was sick as a dog. I almost died,” he recalled. “I knew I could have had it if I was healthy.”
So the junior saved up this spring, holding back in the Santa Teresa Division Finals and Blossom Valley Athletic League Championships. It was all in preparation for his return to section semifinals at Gilroy’s Garcia-Elder Sports Complex.
“I didn’t want to use my full potential because I was scared that if I tried my hardest, I wouldn’t do as good,” Rios said. “I tried to hold a little back each meet. Today, I was just going to go as hard as I possibly could and not leave myself with anything.”
Rios left himself with a new personal record — one minute, 56.10 seconds — and a year’s worth of training fulfilled. He made the cut for Friday’s CCS Finals meet in impressive form, placing second in his heat and third overall. His time was the fifth fastest in the section this year.
“Alan had an incredible race,” Sobrato coach Dave Wolfsmith said. “We knew he had that in him.”
Rios dropped to the back of the field before making his move on the final turn of Lap 1. He chased winner Nathan Strum (1:56.02) of Pioneer through a thrilling final 100 meters.
“It was, by far, the best race I’ve ever done,” Rios said. “A lot of times in the 800, you see that happen where a lot of guys, who aren’t as fast, sprint out ahead of you early. The faster group gets stuck behind — that’s what happened to me. I just tried to stay with Nathan. When I saw I was still close at the end, that just pushed me more to finish my hardest.”
Rios on Friday will battle some of the top 800 runners in California, hoping to place in the top three and advance to state finals.
“Alan is going to make things exciting,” Wolfsmith said. “He has a shot at advancing, but he has to be even better.”
Rios helped set the pace for an exciting afternoon for the Sobrato boys track and field team, which advanced five to section finals. Senior distance star Lance Wolfsmith won the 1,600 meters in 4:24.71 — almost a three-second edge over second-place Nohe Lema of Willow Glen — and placed second overall in the 3,200 meters (9:28.69), which he could win at state. Like last year, Lance Wolfsmith will drop the mile for CCS Finals.
“He’s focusing on the 32. He’s in a whole different class for CCS; he’s going to be the favorite next week,” Dave Wolfsmith said. “The 32 is an elite event, and Lance is in the elite mark. He’s never looked stronger.”
Pushed by a strong field, Alex Meldrum nearly PRed while qualifying in the 300-meter hurdles. The senior placed second in his heat and sixth overall in 40.22, a tenth of a second off his best time.
“That was very big for him,” Dave Wolfsmith said. “Alex definitely ran well. He had some pretty tough competition, and he was able to improve off that.”
In pole vault, Austin Meldrum, Alex’s brother, cleared 12 feet to place 17th as did teammate Brandon Mancini.
Rios, Meldrum, Tim Cavanaugh and Ralph Jackson capped the special day by taking seventh in the 4×400-meter relay (3:26.69). The foursome bested its previous-best mark by two full seconds.
“The 4×4 ended up being the surprise of the afternoon,” Dave Wolfsmith said. “They pushed it.”
On the girls side, Sobrato senior Ariel Mosbrucker ended an impressive career by tying for 26th in the high jump at 4-8 and 13th in the triple jump (33-7 1/2).
Sophomore Marissa Benjamin took 20th in the 200 meters (27.13) and was part of a 4×100 relay that was on pace to PR before missing its final handoff. That foursome also included Cassandra Valenzuela, Lenisha Alexander and Mariah Vedder.
