‘Stang runners compete in first cross country meet of TCAL
season
Gilroy – The Gilroy High cross country team headed to its first meet of the season with high expectations.
The ‘Stangs didn’t disappoint.
The top five Gilroy boys’ varsity runners all placed in the top 19 at the Toro Jamboree in Salinas Wednesday. The Mustangs squared off against runners from Live Oak, North Salinas, Notre Dame, Palma, Salinas and Sobrato in the first official meet of the Tri-County Athletic League season.
“The boys did very well for the start of the season,” said Gilroy cross country coach Cathy Silva. “It was just a great showing for all of them.”
The top runner for Gilroy was senior Arnulfo Velasquez, who took second in the meet behind San Benito’s Rigo Vasquez, with a time of 16:46.
Gilroy’s second and third runners were junior Jose Velasquez (17:44) and Humberto Pineda (17:59).
“The boys are definitely showing they can be strong,” Silva said of her squad.
The only girls’ varsity runner for GHS was junior Megan Litle, whose 23:17 was a personal best at the Toro Park course.
“She’s starting the year off with a time better than she ended last year,” Silva said.
San Benito’s Amanda Boyd won the girls’ race ahead of Live Oak’s Cobbie Jones with a time of 18:47.
“(Boyd) had an awesome time for the girls’ race,” Silva said of the Haybaler senior, who opened the final year her high school rivalry with fellow senior Jones of the Acorns in style.
In the boys’ JV race, the top GHS runners were Manual Casas (2nd, 19:15) and Spencer Silva (19:24). For the girls, freshman Kathleen Miller (25:58) and junior Erin Sterner (25:49) both ran times under 26 minutes.
In the “fifth race” – an additional race held for runners not yet ready for the full three-mile course – GHS sophomore Dylan Whitmer took first with a time of 13:18 on the 2.2-mile course.
The team heads back to Toro Park for its next meet, which is Monday at 3:30pm against Notre Dame and Palma.
WATER POLO MIX-UP
Despite a pair of games against Sobrato appearing on their schedule, the GHS boys’ and girls’ water polos did not play Tuesday. The boys had been scheduled to host the Bulldogs, while the girls were marked down as visiting the Sobrato pool for their match.
