SHS senior still a player in hunt for state finals
GILROY
Even with a pulled hamstring he suffered early in the season while experimenting in the 200 meters, Austin Meldrum is easily the best pole vaulter Dennis Martin has coached in his 12 years with the sport.
Meldrum’s drive and athleticism were on display again Saturday at the Avis-Kelley Track and Field Invitational in Gilroy’s Garcia-Elder, where the Sobrato senior ambled to second place at 13 feet.
Had he been healthy, Meldrum could have made a run for the top prize. That went to Palma junior Matt Clary, whose winning height of 13 feet, six inches matched the Sobrato High School record Meldrum set as a junior. Meldrum has twice matched that mark this year, climbing to fifth in the Central Coast Section rankings.
“He’s kind of battling this season,” Martin said. “He’s a little disappointed about the injury, but he’s a strong kid. He’s going to go more aggressively with it to try and get healed. We’re hoping the warm weather helps.”
Last May, Meldrum left Garcia-Elder dejectedly after tying for sixth (13-0) at CCS Finals and missing the cut for state. The top three finishers advanced at 14-8, 13-6 and 13-6.
Meldrum vowed not to be disappointed again. He is shooting for at least 14 feet, which he will likely need to make state, Martin said.
“I do think he has a realistic chance. I’d still like him to try other events, with his upper body strength and core strength, but his natural fit is with pole vault,” Martin said.
Meldrum has had good company near the top this year, with Sobrato seniors Jackson Reid and Brandon Mancini averaging 12-6 or higher — good for the CCS top 15. Reid tied for third at 12-6 Saturday, and Mancini finished in a five-way tie for sixth at 12 feet.
Winston van Keulen, another SHS senior, was slightly off his season best time of four minutes, 38.77 seconds in the mile but still finished 18th out of almost 50 runners in four minutes, 47.91 seconds. He followed that with a stronger effort in the two mile, placing 10th in 10:29.10.
Sobrato’s Marissa Benjamin had a huge day on the girls side, dropping time in her 400 (1:00.62) and 200 (26.72) heats while taking second and fourth overall. The senior could be ranked in the top 15 in both events by the end of thi week.
Benjamin also anchored a 4×100 relay that won its heat and placed fourth overall in 52.55. That foursome, which also included Kate van Keulen, Jaclyn Periera and Cassandra Valenzuela, momentarily cracked the top 20.
“That’s one relay that’s definitely coming around,” SHS coach Fred Rios said. “For Marissa personally, that was her first chance to race healthy this year. I was very pleased for her.”
The Sobrato girls placed 12th out of 24 schools and are 4-0 in Santa Teresa Division meets entering a pivotal week. They travel to Westmont on Thursday to face the Warriors — also unbeaten — and Prospect.
The defending champion SHS boys dropped to 2-2 last week with a victory over Independence and a loss to Willow Glen in a three-team dual.
Sobrato junior long jumper Steven Villareal made the most of his afternoon, leaping 20-6 to unofficially grace the top 12.
ST. FRANCIS INVITE
Senior Jacob Daw placed in the top seven in four events Saturday to lead Live Oak’s seven-person boys team to an 11th place finish out of 32 schools at the St. Francis Invitational in Mountain View.
Daw took seventh in high jump at 5-10 and ran in a third place 800-meter sprint medley (1:37.63) with T.J. Ornduff, Kean Vaziry and Jacob Montoya; a fourth place 4×400 relay (3:32.47) with Alex Haferbecker, Vaziry and Montoya; and a fifth place 4×100 relay (44.49) with James Walker, Ornduff and Vaziry.
Walker, a senior, also placed fifth in the 100 (11.29) out of 38 sprinters.
