Gilroy thrower Bobby Best looking to end high school career on
high note at this weekend’s state track and field championships
Gilroy – Three attempts to crack the top nine.
That’s what today’s CIF State Track and Field Championship preliminary round of the boys’ discus comes down to for Gilroy thrower Bobby Best.
“I’ve just got to be ready mentally and hopefully not psyche myself out,” Best said Thursday before leaving for the state meet, which begins today at Los Cerritos College near Los Angeles.
Best’s qualifying throw of 165-02 feet – which he hit at last week’s Central Coast Section championships for third place – earned him a No. 13 seed in the field of 24. He’ll have to move up four spots to qualify for Saturday’s finals.
A top-nine finish is within reach, seeing as a CCS opponent of Best’s – Archbishop Mitty’s Drew Gordon – occupies the ninth seed. Gordon hit 167-03 at last week’s CCS meet to finish second behind Homestead’s Will Tsai (183-07), who is seeded fourth in the prelims.
Leading the field are the San Diego Section’s Darius Savage (198-10) of Morse, the returning state champ, and the Southern Section’s Nick Robinson (194-02) of El Toro. No. 3 seeded Bo Taylor of the Southern Section’s Newport Harbor High is the field’s only other thrower in the 190-foot range.
“Hopefully, (Bobby will) get a 170 off, maybe 175,” said Gilroy throwing coach Rich Martinez. “That should get him into the finals.”
Best’s top throws in competition this season have been close to 170. The senior, who will compete at Cal Poly next season, set a personal record at the Bill Kearney Invitational in the middle of the season with a 168-foot throw and then reached 165 a week later at the Meet of Champions in Sacramento.
“He’s been really good and steady (in practice this week.) He still has a really big throw in him,” said Gilroy head coach Jeff Myers. The coach said Best has been hovering in the mid- to upper-160’s all week in practice.
Not having to worry about practicing for shot put also has helped Best prepare for today’s competition.
“He’s had one thing on his mind and all his energy goes to one event,” Myers added.
At last year’s state meet, Best didn’t advance out of the preliminary round because of a finger injury that hampered his throwing ability. He finished 18th in the prelims with a throw of 150-02. The senior won’t be dealing with any of those issues today.
“I had a minor gash on my finger. This year, I’m fine,” Best said. “Hopefully, I’ll PR because I’m due.”
Although last year’s meet didn’t quite go as planned, it gave the senior some exposure to the state meet atmosphere. Having gone to more competitive meets this season has also helped Best.
“The quality of throws is better (this year),” Best said. “I’ve seen most guys from the state, up north and down south versus last year where I just saw them for the first time at state.”
