With its final league dual meet in the bag and a couple of weeks
to go before the Tri-County Athletic League finals, the Live Oak
High track team was looking for an opportunity to measure itself
against top-notch competition in a multi-team event. At
Saturday
’s 26-team Alisal Invitational, the Acorns got the perfect
chance and they responded with some of their finest individual and
team performances of the season.
With its final league dual meet in the bag and a couple of weeks to go before the Tri-County Athletic League finals, the Live Oak High track team was looking for an opportunity to measure itself against top-notch competition in a multi-team event.
At Saturday’s 26-team Alisal Invitational, the Acorns got the perfect chance and they responded with some of their finest individual and team performances of the season.
Led by Cobbie Jones’ double victory in the 800 and 1,600, the Live Oak girls soared to a surprising third-place finish at the event.
And, the Acorn boys also did well, finishing fifth overall.
“That’s what I was hoping for, a good tune-up for the league finals,” LO coach Dean Raymond said. “”Almost everyone PRed who showed up, so that was good.”
Jones’ pace-setting victories included a PR time (5:09.36) in the 1,600, as well as a solid win in the 800 in 2:17.09.
In addition, LO teammate Tanya Tenorio showed off her talent by taking second in the shot put (32-1 3/4) and third in the discus (103-0), while Azucena Atanacio also placed in those events with a fourth in the discus (99-10) and a sixth in the shot (29-11 3/4).
Other top performances by the Acorn girls included Lisa Herrera’s third-place finish in the 3,200 (12:18.95), and Dandrell Thomas’ fifth in the long jump (15-1 1/2) and sixth in the triple jump (32-3 3/4).
On the boys side, Brandon Powell led the way with a second in the 110 high hurdles (15.18).
Also, Jimmy Mallette took third in the shot put (43-4 1/4) and German exchange student Ferry Unger, a two-sport athlete who also competes on the LO diving team, was sixth in the 400 (52.8).
Unger’s time could be good enough to qualify him for the Central Coast Section finals in the event, and he is expected to qualify for CCS postseason competition in both sports.
LO might have done even better but distance standout Billy Wong missed the meet and Jesus Atanacio just missed placing with a seventh in the 800.
LO boys golf
Coming on strong at the end of the season, Live Oak’s Brandon Greene continued his charge into the TCAL Boys Golf Finals at San Juan Oaks on Monday.
Greene shot a 15-over 87 and just missed qualifying for CCS.
Greene ended up tied for the TCAL’s third, and final, individual qualifying spot with four other golfers.
But Greene lost a tiebreaker based on his back-nine score.
“Brandon Greene started off slow but he was probably the strongest finisher on our team,” LO boys golf coach Tony Goble said. “That’s a good score on a tough course.”
The TCAL qualifies the top three teams and the top three individuals for CCS competition.
LO’s Jeff West, who entered the TCAL finals ranked 13th in the league, shot a 94 to finish second on the team.
Other LO scores included Nick Firato’s 95, Tim Dronek’s 98, Danny Adamo’s 100, and Ryan Bradley’s 102.
LO finished the regular season in fifth place in the TCAL this season, beating last-place North Salinas.
