Peter Guenther had a hand in setting a national record.
At least that’s what the Gilroy High hurdler told La Sierra’s
Reggie Wyatt after their preliminary 300 intermediate hurdles race
at the CIF State Track and Field championships held in Clovis
Friday.
CLOVIS – Peter Guenther had a hand in setting a national record.
At least that’s what the Gilroy High hurdler told La Sierra’s Reggie Wyatt after their preliminary 300 intermediate hurdles race at the CIF State Track and Field championships held in Clovis Friday.
“I pushed him to a national title,” Guenther said with a laugh. “We were joking about that.”
Wyatt, bound for USC, came across the line in 35.03 seconds. Guenther came in shortly after him at 37.71 seconds, good for third in the heat and a new personal record. The GHS senior also PR’d in the 110 hurdles trials by finishing in 14.4 seconds.
“I was very happy Friday at the trials,” Guenther said. “I had my two best races ever, so I couldn’t have asked for more.”
Advancing to the 300 finals on Saturday, Guenther’s steps were off to start the race, causing him to take too long of a jump over the second hurdle and lose valuable time and energy.
“Now I know what it’s like on a long jump,” Guenther said. “I landed on both feet and just barely made it over the hurdle. I knew when it happened I had to push it.”
He recovered to move into the top three positions entering the straightway, but by then he was out of gas. He finished in seventh place – 39.01 seconds – to wrap up the most prolific GHS track and field career in more than a decade. He won Central Coast Section titles in the 110 and 300 a week earlier, becoming just the second person in school history to win two CCS events in the same season.
Gilroy coach Jeff Myers said the outcome of the finals race was unfortunate, but overall the weekend and season were a success.
“Peter put the time in and he’s earned it,” Myers said. “The last year and a half he really put it all together.”
Guenther, who thanked Myers and a long list of coaches who had a role in his run to state, will be staying in town until September. He will then attend UC Riverside on an athletic scholarship. UCR coaches have already given him instructions on workout routines they would like him to focus on up until that time. While training full-time is something Guenther is more than used to, it doesn’t carry quite the same thrill.
“I’m already missing track,” Guenther said.
Correction: The original posting of this article stated Guenther finished in ninth place in the 300 IM finals. He finished in seventh place. The Dispatch regrets this error.
