Live Oak, Sobrato athletes qualify for CCS semifinals
Morgan Hill – Four Live Oak runners and at least three Sobrato athletes qualified for the Central Coast Section track and field semifinals at Saturday’s Tri-County Athletic League championships.
But one of the highest placers may not get to compete.
At the end of a tightly contested 1600-meter run race at the Live Oak-hosted event, Sobrato freshman Lance Wolfsmith took a giant step to try to beat out San Benito’s Rigo Vasquez at the finish line for first place and subsequently, a qualification for the CCS semifinals.
But as the freshman took a final step across the finish line and stretched to lean in ahead of Vasquez for the win Saturday, Wolfsmith planted his foot wrong and twisted an ankle. The Sobrato runner, who had won the event at Wednesday’s TCAL trials, took second in a time of 4:30.40, less than a half-second behind winner Vasquez (4:30.01). The injury kept Wolfsmith from running later in the day in the 3200, which the runner’s father and coach Dave Wolfsmith said would have been his focus for CCS.
“This definitely would have been his event,” Dave Wolfsmith said. “He was going to drop (the 1600 and focus on the 3200.”
Now only time will tell if Lance Wolfsmith’s ankle will heal enough so he can run at the CCS semifinals, for which he qualified with the second place 1600 finish. Even though the freshman didn’t get a chance to try to qualify in the 3200, Dave Wolfsmith said if healthy, Lance might be able to get into CCS based on the times he has raced this season and a CCS hardship rule.
There were several other big performances from Sobrato athletes. Junior Franziska Gellert won the pole vault with a height of 9-06. All top four finishers in the pole vault topped out at that height, but Gellert, who also took fourth in triple jump, had the fewest misses. Also earning automatic qualification to the CCS meet were freshman Ariel Mosbrucker and sophomore Alex Cervantes. Mosbrucker took second in high jump with a height of 4-10 while Cervantes took second in the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.88. Mosbrucker was also third in the triple jump (31-08.00).
Going to CCS for Live Oak are Jimmy Mallette and Colby Austin, who took second and third respectively in the shot put, senior Andrew Taylor, who took fourth in the 800-meter run and Katie Armstrong, who finished third in the 100-meter hurdles.
The top two finishers in the girls’ events and top three finishers in the boys’ events automatically advanced on to CCS. But some athletes who finished just out of the automatic qualifying spots could get bids if other qualifiers drop events.
“That was two more than I expected,” said Live Oak coach Dean Raymond. “Andrew ran the best race of his life so it was good to see him go on.”
In the team finishes, San Benito (153 points) beat out Palma (139.50) for the boys’ TCAL title. For the girls, Salinas (155) beat the ‘Baler girls (125) by 30 points.
For the past two years, Live Oak has hosted the TCAL track and field championship meet. But because the Acorns moving up to the Blossom Valley Athletic League next year, Gilroy will take over as the TCAL host next season.
“That’s the reason I wanted it here (this year), for a last good-bye,” Raymond said.
The CCS semifinals are take place at San Jose City College Saturday.
