GILROY – Past personal-best marks consistently fell by the
wayside for Gilroy High track and field members as the 40th Annual
Avis Kelley Invitational hosted by Gilroy went off without a hitch
and saw the Mustangs boys’ team capture first place in the 61-team
event Saturday at Garcia Elder Sports Complex.
GILROY – Past personal-best marks consistently fell by the wayside for Gilroy High track and field members as the 40th Annual Avis Kelley Invitational hosted by Gilroy went off without a hitch and saw the Mustangs boys’ team capture first place in the 61-team event Saturday at Garcia Elder Sports Complex.
“The boys came to compete,” GHS head coach Jeff Myers said. “I was happy with every member stepping it up. The whole team, in all areas, contributed. They were setting personal-records left and right.”
The Mustangs collected 46.5 points, 6.5 points ahead of second place North Monterey County.
Junior David Guenther set three individual PR marks, including a 51.64 in the 400-meter dash (fifth), a 20 feet, 5.25 inch long jump (fifth place) and a 40-8.5 in the triple jump to claim seventh.
The Mustangs’ 4X100 relay team, Guenther, Ronnie Short, Julius Travis and Romeo Travis, set the new team-benchmark with a blistering 44.04 race, to take second behind Oak Grove (43.62).
“They had been making some mistakes with the baton exchanges, but I let them work it out on their own,” Myers said. “They made the changes on their own and really came together as a group.”
Julius Travis took home the 200-meter gold medal, racing to a PR time of 22.47 in the qualifying heat en route to the win in the finals. Julius also tied for second in the 100-meter, matching a season-best time of 11.21.
In his first competition back from a hip-flexor injury he suffered in a preseason meet at the beginning of March, sophomore Jourdan Soares posted a PR in the high jump, clearing the bar at 5-10 to land third place.
“That was really good to see,” Myers said.
Cordero Gonzalez’s shot put throw of 43-9.75 earned him a seventh place showing and was also good enough for a PR distance. Michael Saccone’s 16.78 in his qualifying heat of the 110-meter hurdles was a personal-best. Saccone captured seventh in the finals. Chima Ikeme took home the bronze medal in the discus throw, recording a personal-best throw of 140-03 in the process.
The Lady Mustangs finished in seventh place with 27 team points. Mount Pleasant won the team crown with 50 points.
Sarah Una Dia continued her assault on the GHS record books, setting a school record in the 100-meter hurdles with a 15.32 in the finals to finish third.
Sophomore Sarina Sandoval put forth a PR throw of 33-8.5 and finished fifth in the shot put behind four seniors.
“She is holding her own out there with all those seniors she’s been competing against,” Myers said.
The Christopher High boys junior varsity team, which is also coached by Myers, finished sixth in the frosh-soph portion of the invite.
The Cougars were led by first-place performances by Zach Bassi in the pole vault and Martin Ettema in the 110-meter hurdles.
Bassi cleared the bar at 11-feet and Ettema out sprinted John Lew of San Leandro to the finish line, to clock a 16.70.
“Zach has been coming up strong recently,” Myers said. “He is putting the work in at practice. He found the right pole and it all clicked for him.
“Martin is running really well right now,” Myers continued. “He was crisp and sharp over the hurdles.”
Claudia Ferreira picked up team points for the Lady Cougars with her gold medal in the 300-meter hurdles, crossing in 52.62, nearly three seconds faster than the second place runner.
“She really threw the hammer down in the finals,” Myers said.
