Lopez takes 2nd, qualifies for CIF State Meet in shot-put
SAN JOSE – Being Gilroy High’s lone representative in Friday’s Central Coast Section Track & Field Finals at San Jose City College did not bother senior thrower Brian Lopez one bit.
But after five straight sub-par puts with a state championship berth on the line, Lopez shook his head and smacked his hands together in dismay – knowing he had a lot more distance in him. It was only one week earlier at the CCS Semis that Lopez tallied 54 feet-four 1/2 inches to qualify for the finals. On this day though, his longest put of five was 52 feet-nine inches.
“Nerves,” said Lopez of his early short-comings.
When his final turn came around, the stout athlete chalked up his hands and stepped into the circle. Leaning over with his back to the markers, Lopez began his pre-put technique and, after a short skip and turn, released the shot.
“I knew after my last throw that I was going to state,” said Lopez, whose personal-best put of 55 feet-two inches meant second place and a state berth. “I went up there and put out all my aggression.”
Los Gatos senior Nick Kay was the overwhelming section champion with a distance of 62 feet-11 inches. But there was a close battle for second as only one inch separated three throwers. Lopez finished as the CCS runner-up for the final state spot with Fremont junior Matt Barkley (55 feet-1 1/2 inches) claiming third and Westmoor junior Ray Hisatake (55 feet-1 inch) placing fourth.
“That was a tough one,” said Lopez with a wide smile on his face. “My goal was to win CCS, but Nick (Kay) improved seven, eight feet over the last two weeks. I’m happy to get second when the top throw in the state beats me. I’ll take second to that.”
Lopez – whose distance lands in the state’s top 20 – and Kay will represent the Central Coast Section at the 2003 CIF State Track & Field Championships on June 6-7 at Cerritos College in Norwalk.
“Now I just have to get ready for the states,” said Lopez, who is eyeing the Gilroy High school shot-put record of 56 feet-11 inches set by Sal Flores. “All I need is two feet more next week.”
Last year, Lopez missed the state meet by finishing 10th in the shot at the CCS Finals.
“To go from 10th to second is a pretty big improvement,” Lopez said. “I improved eight feet from last year. I wanted to improve 10 feet so I could break the school record.”
He’ll get another chance at the school mark next week.
“It’s probably about 40 percent strength and 60 percent technique,” said Lopez of shot-put. “It’s all legs, butt, thighs and hips. It’s not much upper body.”
And the candid senior added: “I’m large in the rear.”
Lopez’s day was not over yet, as he also competed in the discus throw – placing fifth with a distance of 159 feet-one inch that came on his first attempt. Once again, Los Gatos’ Kay won the event with a monstrous toss of 204 feet-10 inches.
