Velasquez places fifth to lead Gilroy pack in first win over
North Salinas
GILROY – It was three years in the making, but the Gilroy High boys cross country team picked up a league victory in Monday’s tri-meet with both Salinas and North Salinas.
Although the Mustangs fell 45-17 to Salinas – a top contender in the section – the hosts defeated North Salinas by a slim 28-31 spread. (In cross country, the places of the team’s top five runners are added up and the team with the lowest tally wins.)
“They ran a good time, but they did not necessarily run a good race,” head coach Wayne Scott said. “I wanted them to be closer to the top North Salinas runners… But you have to be happy with our first victory in three seasons so it’s kinda hard to complain.”
Sophomore Arnulfo Velasquez was Gilroy’s top finisher – placing fifth with a time of 18:07. Velasquez said hung with the lead group early on, but fell behind on the incline at Christmas Hill Park.
“I was feeling strong,” said Velasquez, who placed second in Gilroy’s tight loss to Live Oak last week.
A trio of Salinas runners (Vikram Patel in 17:42, Omar Mendoza in 17:43, Tod Hearnsberger in 17:45) took the top three spots followed by North Salinas’ Luis Corvera in 17:56 in fourth place. Velasquez was 12 seconds back in fifth position.
“I would have liked to see him race with the No. 1 North Salinas runner and not be 11 seconds behind,” said Scott of his promising young runner.
Humberto Pineda was the next Gilroy runner to cross the finish-line in 11th position with a time of 19:02. Then a herd of Mustangs finished up from 13th to 17th in the 21-runner pack with Steven Bennett in 19:14, Nate Barmore in 19:26, Jose Velasquez in 20:03, Allan Chan in 20:08, and Darrin Amerson in 20:44.
“It was a good time. I just want to do a lot better,” Bennett said. “I’ll definitely keep improving. No doubt about it.”
Up next, the Mustangs will run against Palma on Oct. 13 at Toro Park.
