Sobrato boys, girls beat LO teams
MORGAN HILL — Both sides likened it to practice, but the Sobrato track and field teams left Richert Field with bragging rights after they swept Live Oak in both varsity divisions Thursday.
The Sobrato boys team won the Santa Teresa Division dual meet 89-37, and the girls team triumphed 72-63.
“Obviously, it’s always fun to get out and compete against your rival, but we were expecting to do well,” Sobrato coach Dave Wolfsmith said. “We have some very good athletes on the boys side and some good depth on the girls.”
Both Sobrato teams moved to 3-0 in division meets. The boys team won 13 events, getting multiple victories from Alan Rios, Alex Meldrum and Joel Rueda. Rios helped lead the Bulldogs’ 4×100- and 4×400-meter relay teams to victory and also placed first in the 400 meters, clocking 52.86 seconds. Meldrum won the 300-meter hurdles in 41.31 seconds, then won the triple jump with a leap of 41 feet, six inches. Rueda won the shot put with his 38-02 throw, and placed first in discus at 107-07.
“We saw some really good performances,” Dave Wolfsmith added. “We’re on pace to put on a good show at league finals.”
The Lady Bulldogs edged Live Oak with the help of Ariel Mosbrucker’s sweep in the long jump (4-10), triple jump (34-04) and long jump (14-07). Teammate Heather Johnson launched seven feet even to win the pole vault, and Marissa Benjamin placed first in the 100 meters (12.55). Sobrato also won the 4×400 relay in 4:25.52.
Live Oak still came away with plenty of individual victories.
Sophomore Greg White won the 200 meters in 23.09 — and the long jump (19-07) in his first time competing in the event.
The Lady Acorns received help from junior Pauline Olsen, who won the 400 meters (1:01.69) and the 800 meters (2:33.87). Teammate Stephanie Armstrong placed first in the 100 (17.44) and 300-meter hurdles (53.59), and Olivia Duran won the mile (5:55.87) and two-mile (12:50.31).
Live Oak’s Nikki Dronek threw farthest in the shot put (23-09) and discus (72-00).
“It was a chance for our guys and girls to get some extra practice in for the big meets, and they made the most of it,” Live Oak distance coach Mike Sullivan said. “We came away with 15 PRs. Our goal is to have 200 by the end of the season.”
The Acorns followed with a big weekend at the Stanford Invitational, where both 4×100 relays performed well. The boys team of Jeff Roberts, Billy Van Aken, James Hamblin and White clocked a personal-best 45.16, and the girls foursome of Erika Rodriguez, Courtney Robinson, Catherine Sparling and Lauren Drewniany shaved a second off their PR. They are still ranked in the top 15 of the CIF-Central Coast Section.
Varsity boys team scores:
Sobrato 89, Live Oak 37
Varsity girls team scores:
Sobrato 72, Live Oak 63
BOYS
4×100 relay – Sobrato ‘A’ 44.68; 1,600 – Damien Macial, Sobrato, 4:56.37; 110 hurdles – Alex Meldrum, Sobrato, 15.49; 400 – Alan Rios, Sobrato, 52.86; 100 – Obi Mbonu, Sobrato, 11.51; 800 – Lance Wolfsmith, Sobrato, 2:02.25; 300 hurdles – Alex Meldrum, Sobrato, 41.31; 200 – Greg White, Live Oak, 23.09; 4×400 relay – Sobrato ‘A’ 3:47.90; High Jump – Tim Cavanaugh, Sobrato, 5-06; Long jump – Greg White, Live Oak, 19-07; Triple jump – Alex Meldrum, Sobrato, 41-06; Pole vault – Brandon Mancini, Sobrato, 10-06; Shot put – Joel Rueda, Sobrato, 38-02; Discus – Joel Rueda, Sobrato, 107-07.
GIRLS
4×100 relay – Live Oak ‘A’ 53.44; 1,600 – Olivia Duran, Live Oak, 5:55.87; 100 hurdles – Stephanie Armstrong, Live Oak, 17.44; 400 – Pauline Olsen, Live Oak, 1:01.69; 100 – Marissa Benjamin, Sobrato, 12.55; 800 – Pauline Olsen, Live Oak, 2:33.87; 300 hurdles – Stephanie Armstrong, Live Oak, 53.59; 200 – Erika Rodriguez, Live Oak, 26.68; 3,200 – Olivia Duran, Live Oak, 12:50.31; 4×400 relay – Sobrato ‘A’ 4:25.52; High jump – Ariel Mosbrucker, Sobrato, 4-10; Long jump – Ariel Mosbrucker, Sobrato, 14-07; Triple jump – Ariel Mosbrucker, Sobrato, 34-04; Pole vault – Heather Johnson, Sobrato, 7-00; Shot put – Nikki Dronek, Live Oak, 23-09; Discus – Nikki Dronek, Live Oak, 72-00.
