CROSS COUNTRY
Gilroy runners open season by cutting time off last year’s best finishes
Gilroy senior Bianca Becerra cut more than two minutes off her best time from last year at the team’s season opener.
The Mustangs kicked off the year at the Chieftain Invitational at Toro Park in Salinas. Bercerra finished in 25:42, besting her personal best from 2012 of 27:59.
Freshman Monica Ruelas showed that the future of Mustang XC is bright, taking seventh place in the frosh-soph race in a time of 21:58.
On the boys side sophomores Michael Kropff and Julian Flores cut almost a minute off their best times from 2012 to open the season. Kropff finished in 18:55, improving off last year’s best time of 19:42. Flores completed his race in 20:42, besting his 2012 record of 21:34.
Kairo Barroso added 10 seconds to his best time from 2012 — finishing in 19:05 — but coach Cathy Silva said that his finish was an indication that he’ll drop down to the 17-18 minute mark this season.Â
Newcomers Jacob Una Dia and Sean Kaufman started their XC careers with strong outings. Una Dia finished in 19:35, while Kaufman finished in 19:05.
The Mustangs will be back in action at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 25 for the Monterey Bay League Center Meet I at Toro Park in Salinas.Â
Christopher’s Ciccone breaks school record
There’s nothing like starting out with a bang.
Freshman Sawyer Ciccone broke the Christopher High cross country record Saturday at the Chieftain Classic Invitational with a time of 18:56. It was Ciccone’s very first race as a Cougar.Â
Other notables from CHS were Andre Selby, Brandon Ellenberg, Chris Clark and Matthew Switzer who all broke their own personal records.Â
