Live Oak sophomore Afari La-Anyane was the only local to advance Saturday in the Central Coast Section Semifinals at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex in Gilroy.
Anyane placed seventh overall in the 110-meter high hurdles in a personal-best 15.36 seconds. He finished second in his heat behind Bellarmine’s Jalen Wright (15.05), who took fourth.
The top eight placers in each event advanced to Friday’s CCS Finals, also at Garcia-Elder.
Several runners from Live Oak and Sobrato stood a decent chance, as high temperatures made it a relatively slow meet. But with competition as tight as ever, even their best efforts weren’t enough.
Personal records fell for James Gabbard and Emily Guthormsen of Live Oak, as Gabbard made the top 15 at 800 meters (1:59.20), building off an impressive runner-up performance at Blossom Valley Athletic League Finals on May 10, and Guthormsen finished 24th in the 1,600 (5:22.28). The Sobrato girls’ 4×100 relay of Jessica Reid, Shawna Lai, Cybil Pace and Kate van Keulen, the lone Morgan Hill senior in the meet, clocked a season-best 51.42 that was good for 25th.
Sobrato’s Miguel Redmond, a dark horse in pole vault, matched his best mark of 12 feet, 6 inches to take 12th.
Aside from La-Anyane, Sobrato junior Ryan Corvese (3,200) had arguably the best chance among locals after placing 10th at the CCS Top 8 classic in April. But Corvese finished 19th in 9:52.70. He needed close to a PR to make the cut.
The stakes were similar for Kalum Bergstrom in the high jump. The Live Oak sophomore was coming off clearing a personal-best 5-9 at BVALs but could not match that effort Saturday. He did not record a height.
Reid, who also stood out at BVALs in the 400, placed 17th in 1:00.56, wrapping a solid rookie season in which she set school records in the 400 and 200.
Also for Sobrato, Thomas Yath finished 24th in the 400 (52.36); high jumpers Rebekah Inouye and Elizabeth Tran tied for 22nd at 4-9, and Maritza Anaya threw 84-11 in discus to place 27th.
Live Oak’s 4×400 of Annalise DiSalvo, Alissa Pham, Paige Frierson and Guthormsen placed 26th in 4:22.77. Guthormsen also posted the 23rd-fastest time (2:27.71) in the 800.
The Live Oak boys’ 4×400 (Gabbard, Bergstrom, Kyle Robertson, Daniel Gonzalez) took 27th (3:38.55).
NOTES: The CCS Finals begin with field events at 4 p.m. Running events will start at 6. La-Anyane is scheduled to compete in the 110 hurdles at 6:50. The top-three placers in each event automatically qualify for the June 1-2 CIF State Championships in Clovis.
