After a lackluster regular season followed by a
less-than-impressive performance at the league trials last week,
Live Oak junior standout distance runner Billy Wong was in need of
an inspiring performance at last weekend
’s Tri-County Athletic League finals at Live Oak High.
After a lackluster regular season followed by a less-than-impressive performance at the league trials last week, Live Oak junior standout distance runner Billy Wong was in need of an inspiring performance at last weekend’s Tri-County Athletic League finals at Live Oak High.
That went double for the rest of the Acorn squad.
And, competing on his home track, Wong came through in a big way, qualifying for the Central Coast Section meet in two events — the 1,600 and the 3,200.
The top three finishers in each event at the league finals qualified for the CCS meet. The CCS trials are set for Saturday at 11 a.m. at San Jose City College, with the section finals scheduled for Saturday, May 29.
Wong was just three seconds off his PR in the 1,600 at 4:31.33, and turned in a solid 10:18.75 in the 3,200. He appears to be peaking at exactly the right time heading into the CCS meet.
“I haven’t had great times this season,” Wong admitted before qualifying in the 3,200. “But this feels good.”
Sophomore Cobbie Jones also qualified for CCS in two events for Live Oak — winning the 800 (2:20.08) and 1,600 (5:15.14).
And, several other Acorns also qualified for CCS in single events.
For the Acorn girls, Azucena Atanacio won the discus with a toss of 105-6, Tanya Tenorio was second in the shot put at 30-2 1/4, Heather Molyneaux took third in the 200 in 27.47, and Lisa Herrera was third in the 3,200 in 12:17.95.
For the Live Oak boys, Brandon Powell finished first in the 110 hurdles in an upset, turning in a PR time of 15.29, and Jesus Atanacio took third in 800.
In addition, several Acorn athletes just missed qualifying for CCS in other events.
Among them was junior Ashley Ceasar, who ended up in a jump-off for third place in the high jump competition with Hollister-San Benito’s Danielle Andrewson.
Ceasar and Andrewson battled through several attempts before the Haybaler cleared five feet to advance to the section meet.
Senior Daniella King took fifth in the 1,600 in her final high school race despite running a PR time.
And, Jonathan Kamei took sixth in the 1,600 in a PR time, and seventh in the 800.
Some of the near misses kept athletes who had already qualified in another event from joining Wong and Jones as double qualifiers.
Azucena Atanacio finished fourth in the shot put, while teammate Tenorio took fourth in the discus — both just short of qualifying distances.
Herrera was fourth in the 1,600, Molyneaux took fifth in the 400 and sixth in the long jump, and Elizabeth Johanson was seventh in the 100 hurdles.
Powell took sixth in the 300 hurdles.
