Team-wise, the Gilroy High cross country squads came up empty on
their home course Monday.
Judging from the across-the-board improvement, though, it was
hardly an empty day for the Mustangs.
Team-wise, the Gilroy High cross country squads came up empty on their home course Monday.
Judging from the across-the-board improvement, though, it was hardly an empty day for the Mustangs.
Competing against Palma without the services of No. 2 runner Randy Higashi (sore knee), the boys’ team was led by first-place finisher Arnulfo Velasquez.
After finishing second in the Mustangs’ first two races, the junior led the way this time, finishing the 3.2-mile course in 17:44.
He finished the race 17 seconds ahead of Palma’s Scott Edwards.
“Last race we were close so I knew it would be again,” Velasquez said of the finish between him and Edwards. “Getting the win feels good.”
The victory is a well-deserved reward for Velasquez, head coach Cathy Silva said.
“His dedication is incredible,” she noted. “He’s very determined to run sprints, improve his time and build his endurance.
“He’s really a team leader.”
The Chieftains took home every place between second and seventh, but all was not lost for the Mustangs.
The last time the team was clocked on its round trip from the GHS football field to Christmas Hill Park was Sept. 20. Compared to those times, Darrin Amerson (19.23), Allan Chan (19:24) and even a sick Frankie Valdez (19:33) all improved their times by at least 25 seconds.
Velasquez increased his time by a full minute.
“I feel we’re doing well,” Amerson said. “We just have to keep running and keep training.”
The Gilroy improvement since Sept. 20 isn’t, however, limited to just the boys’ side.
The Lady Mustangs have made remarkable strides in just one week.
Notre Dame’s Karina Sterrett took first overall, but GHS senior Stephanie Radtke finished closely behind with a second-place time of 22:05, more than two minutes faster than her last run.
“I’ve actually been sick this past week, so I didn’t feel like I ran that strong a race,” Radtke said. “But I’m just happy I got through. I tried my best.”
Christina Hernandez (24:35) finished fifth, Megan Litle (25:18) seventh and April Shimabukuro (25:57) ninth.
All three improved significantly – Litle and Shimabukuro by over two minutes.
“That’s what we’re looking for … improvement,” Silva said. “It would be awesome to win the race, but as long as we’re improving, that’s great.”
