Lopez, Butler, Sicard place first in track invite at GHS
GILROY – Mustang tracksters picked up five first-place marks in the return of Gilroy High’s Avis Kelley Invitational on Saturday, even with the last four events being canceled due to rain.
Senior strongman Brian Lopez – who is currently ranked fourth in shot-put and fifth in discus for the Central Coast Section (CCS) – persevered through the wet conditions with a pair of first-place finishes.
In the shot, Lopez putted a personal best with a distance of 53 feet, three inches and, in the discus, he managed a long of 130 feet, seven inches.
“It was cool. It ran really smooth,” said Lopez of the annual meet. “I hadn’t competed in the Avis Kelly since my freshman year so it was good to come back and win it.”
Junior speedster Raquel Butler also pulled in two first-place times in the 200m – where she is ranked eighth in the section – and the 400m – where she is ranked third in CCS. Butler blazed to a 26.6 in the 200m and a 59.3 in the 400m.
Senior thrower Sam Sicard placed first in the discus with a distance of 101 feet for Gilroy’s fifth first-place medal as well as taking second in the shot-put.
The Mustangs finished in fifth place as a team with limited competitors and Seaside won the tournament championship.
Freshman long-distance runner Arnufo Velasquez took third in the mile run with a time of 4:54.98, while triple-jumpers Alfie Resnigt (fourth in 40.7) and Charlene Rojas (fifth in 30.6) also contributed to the team score.
In the junior varsity competition, freshman thrower Bobby Best won both the discus with a distance of 127 feet – which would have gave him third in the varsity meet – and the shot-put with distance of 40 feet.
“He’s going to be real good,” said Lopez of Best.
The Mustangs will compete in the Silver Creek Invitational this weekend and then the Bill Kearney Invitational next week. In addition, Butler, Lopez and Best will also compete in the Top Eight meet at Los Gatos High.
