The Live Oak cross country team competed Saturday in the
Tri-County League championships with mixed results for the team.
The girls team, led by Sophomore Cobbie Jones, won the event; the
boys came up short and will only be sending two runners to CCS.
The Live Oak cross country team competed Saturday in the Tri-County League championships with mixed results for the team. The girls team, led by Sophomore Cobbie Jones, won the event; the boys came up short and will only be sending two runners to CCS.
Jones set the tone for the girls, setting a new league record at Toro Park with a time of 19:01. The girls, under strong performances by Yesenia Miranda and Daniella King, qualified for CCS by only two points.
“I’m real pleased with their efforts,” said Dean Raymond, the Acorn head coach.
Freshman Joelle Jenkins, a runner for the junior varsity squad, will be running with the varsity girls at CCS. She had the fourth fastest time, improving her personal best by 1:30.
The boys, on the other hand, just missed a chance at a CCS berth coming in fourth as a team, needing a third place finish.
Billy Wong nearly took second, but as he came over a hill, he twisted his ankle and had to settle for sixth. The injury is significant enough that it may alter Wong’s performance in CCS, according to Raymond.
“We’re going to get him into therapy and hopefully get him ready for CCS in (11) days,” Raymond said.
Nick Mott was the second finisher for Live Oak improved by 30 seconds. He was the only other Live Oak runner who qualified for CCS.
The next finisher was Johnathan Kamei who improved his time by 45 seconds, but Raymond was pleased with his efforts.
“He ran a courageous race,” Raymond said. “It was a breakthrough race for him, just two seconds behind Mott.”
Overall for the boys, Raymond was a little disappointed. He says that the boys could have done better and just missed going to CCS.
“The boys lost to Palma by two places,” Raymond said. “I hope this is a learning lesson. Every place counts. If the could have held off just one runner or improved just one place, things could have been much different.”
The CCS competition will begin on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Crystal Springs in San Mateo. Raymond is optimistic about Jones’s chances, citing her talent and experience. He is guarded with Wong, due to his injury. He says Wong’s success will depend on how much training he can put in.
Tennis
In the finial game of the season, the Live Oak girls tennis team was defeated by Gilroy, Thursday 6-1.
Continuing her success on the court, Mallory Stevens won her match in three, winning the first set, 6-3, and the last 7-5. The second set went down 6-0 for the Gilroy player.
Stevens will be seeded No. 2 going into TCAL. Herrera is excited about Stevens, saying her aggressiveness could carry her to take TCAL.
“She has a good shot at being champion,” Herrera said. “She was in a slump, but lately she is driving the ball and should do well.”
Coach Ignacio Herrera was pleased with team’s performance this season. The girls won two meets, but Herrera says his team was inexperienced. He said his players were making little mistakes, and were not as consistent as he would have liked. He did say, however, that each player was improving, but the season was too short for a dramatic turnaround.
TCAL will begin Thursday at North Salinas, then move to Hollister Friday.
