Early indications have Gilroy High’s varsity girls cross country
team on track to live up to its No. 2 ranking in the Central Coast
Section.
SALINAS – Early indications have Gilroy High’s varsity girls cross country team on track to live up to its No. 2 ranking in the Central Coast Section.
Competing at the Earlybird Invitational held at Toro Park in Salinas Saturday, Gilroy featured three top-13 finishers in the junior division – Earlybird divisions are split by class standing – which was good for second place overall, and a 10th place finish in the senior division by Kathleen Miller.
“[The juniors] were really excited about [second place] and they did a good job of pacing, running as a pack,” said GHS cross-country coach Cathy Silva.
Brandie Rodriguez (21:06) took 10th, a full minute faster than where she was to start last season, Paty Hernandez earned 12th by coming across the line in 21:19, and Jessica Hopf showed she has recovered well from injury by taking 13th with a time of 21:25.
MIller’s day was also something to feel good about considering she was running by herself in a competitive field of more than 200. With help from her fellow runners – the Mustangs will try to run in pairings or as a pack in each race to conserve energy and keep a steady pace – MIller, who will be trying to make it to state for the third straight year, should see her times and placement steadily improve.
Miller didn’t take part in the Tri-County Athletic League Jamboree on Wednesday, which featured perfect temperatures for long-distance running after an extended heatwave limited the team’s ability to practice, but that didn’t stop the Mustangs from showing they’ll be contenders on the boys’ side, if not champions on the girls’.
Sophomore Tim Williams finished Wednesday’s 5K, which was also held at Toro Park, in a time of 17:52. “That’s a real good time for him to run at,” Silva said. “[Hard work] is definitely paying off for him.”
Juan Velasquez and Ramiro Diaz – who had the best Earlybird time for all GHS males at 17:58 after not running competitively in a year and a half- along with Williams will be the leaders of a squad that lost 11 seniors.
Other female runners who will be counted upon this season in a bid for a team trip to state include Anne Donahoe, Rebecca Valencia and Christine Bobula.
“If we can keep them healthy, I think we’ll have a very strong season,” Silva said.
