Gilroy gave the Tri-County Athletic League a glimpse of what’s
in store for opponents this season at the cross-country Jamboree in
Salinas Wednesday afternoon.
Gilroy gave the Tri-County Athletic League a glimpse of what’s in store for opponents this season at the cross-country Jamboree in Salinas Wednesday afternoon.
Mustang runners traversed a 5k course that tested their endurance, but didn’t force them to give everything they had, according to coach Cathy Silva.
“For this point in the season, they have a mindset that it’s not counting towards league and it’s not for an invitational so they’re a little more relaxed,” Silva said. “They pushed themselves but not to the limit like they would in other races.”
Despite the minimal stakes, varsity boys runners Derek Pesta, Jaime Reyes and Juan Velasquez took second, eighth and twelfth, respectively. Pesta completed the run in 17 minutes and nine seconds, a phenomenal time for this point in the year. Reyes finished in 17:52 while Valasquez crossed the line in 18:13.
Two freshmen, Tim Williams and Raul Covarrubias, were given a chance by coaches to show if they’re worthy of being varsity runners by taking part in the event. Williams had a time of 19:13 and was followed by Covarrubias, who finished in 19:36.
“That was good for two freshman boys,” Silva said. “That’ll be something to watch.”
The girls side was equally impressive as Jessica Hopf, who is in her first year of running cross-country after playing field hockey, took second (20:32), Paty Hernandez took third (20:33) and Kathleen Miller took fourth (20:34).
Silva said the group did an excellent job of running in a pack.
“One of the goals for us at the beginning of the season was trying to get the kids to run as a team,” she said. “They ran the whole race that way, all three of them side-by-side. It was a lot of fun to watch.
“Three girls beneath them did the same exact thing,” Silva said.
Those girls included 14th place finisher Annie Donahoe (22:17), 17th place Christine Bobula (22:48) and 18th place Brandie Rodriguez (23:03).
“The three of them ran the race together and that last little sprint at the end was where they spread out,” Silva said.
All cross country teams will now prepare for the season that will start Sept. 10 in Gilroy at Christmas Hill Park.
