Talented freshmen following seniors into fold
MORGAN HILL — Training with the likes of Division I college runners Lance Wolfsmith and Alan Rios helped groom Winston van Keulen into a superb distance runner and an even better leader.
Though he admittedly lacks the star power of his former Sobrato High School teammates, van Keulen has the potential to leave a lasting mark on the boys cross country team this fall as a mentor for the Bulldogs’ talented younger runners.
Sobrato has welcomed a large batch of them, including freshmen Kyle Alexander and Matt Hanlon, the Nos. 1 and 3 runners from Britton Middle School, respectively, and former Martin Murphy Middle School standout Austin Heiser.
“We have a lot of talented guys coming this year. I want to help them anyway I can,” van Keulen said Wednesday. “I know I’m not going to lead by being the top runner at a race like Lance and Alan did, but I can at least be able to tell my team to go hard and push themselves.
“It’s kind of crazy having young guys come up to be asking for advice. I’m doing my best to help.”
Van Keulen has risen to several opportunities during his prep career.
In 2008, he was expected to shore up Sobrato’s scoring as the No. 4 runner on a team that had its state-meet hopes undercut by injuries dealt to Wolfsmith and Rios; van Keulen had to fill in as the No. 2 finisher at Central Coast Section finals.
Last year, van Keulen stepped up behind Rios, finishing 37th at the Division II meet in a personal-best 16 minutes, 42 seconds at Crystal Springs.
As a senior, van Keulen is expected to be the lead the team in meets alongside his equally talented classmate Derek Diesenroth.
“Derek and Winston, I’d say right now, are about even,” SHS coach Dave Wolfsmith said. “Derek suffered a shoulder injury in an accident, but he’s coming back strong. Winston’s been the better runner in the past, but I think Derek has the ability to step up and push him. This is going to be their year.”
The Sobrato boys have the depth to challenge for first place in the Santa Teresa Division and a top-five finish at Blossom Valley Athletic League Finals. Ryan Corvese, who ran at CCS finals with van Keulen and Diesenroth in 2009, is vying for the No. 3 spot with junior Zach Ankiel.
Gabe Cheadle, a hold-over from the track team, and freshmen Derrick Ando and Cody Hulme also could score high for the Bulldogs.
“We have a lot of young talent,” van Keulen said. “What I really like about the younger guys is they’re motivated. Ryan and Zach have the mindset to push each other every day.”
The Bulldogs’ first meet is the Sept. 11 Early Bird Invitational. Their league opener is Sept. 21 at Alumni Rock.
Dave Wolfsmith is eager to see how his girls team stacks up this year, especially Courtney Ellenburg. The junior is coming off a grueling summer filled with triathlons, and a track season that saw her break under six minutes in the mile.
Ellenburg looks stronger than ever — and poised to break into the top 20 at CCS finals. She placed 33rd (19:52) in 2009.
“I’m just thinking about catching the person in front of me and the next one after that when I run,” she said. “I’ve learned to communicate more with myself and my coach. I think it’s going to be a great year for me and the team.”
The SHS girls return three others from their sectional-qualifying team: seniors Cassandra Valenzuela, Emily Thoms and Kiley Foster. Each of them has improved.
Junior Camila Rico and freshman Lindsey Ellenburg, Courtney’s sister, are filling in well at practice.
“They’re not used to the volume of running, but, on race day, they’ll really step it up,” Wolfsmith said. “We’re just trying to teach to be prepared. It’ll be fun to see what they do as a team.”
