Mustang track runs shorthanded vs. Live Oak
MORGAN HILL – Without its three top long-distance runners, the Gilroy High boys varsity track team suffered a 69-61 loss to Live Oak in Thursday’s league meet.
“I thought we were going to win this one, but what happened was our top long-distance runners did not compete,” head coach Guido Zvigzne said. “Three of our best distance runners weren’t there and that hurt us. That tipped the balance.”
Sophomore Arnulfo Velasquez twisted his ankle playing soccer – but will return in time for the T-CAL Finals – while seniors Nate Barmore and Steven Bennett “decided they couldn’t go to the meet,” said Zvigzne, who asked both of them to leave the team.
Zvigzne said Barmore – a four-year varsity runner – had a valid personal reason for missing Thursday’s meet, but then added he would not be going to the May 15 T-CAL Finals.
“It’s just disappointing,” Zvigzne said. “That’s the most important thing. That’s like going to college and skipping the finals. That’s what it’s all about.”
The Mustangs will also be without senior Melvin Bryant for the league championships at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, but Zvigzne did not give a reason for his absence. The coach did mention that Gilroy High’s Senior Prom is on the same Saturday as the league finals.
Another reason for Gilroy’s unfavorable outcome was that sophomore thrower Bobby Best competed for junior varsity rather than varsity because he was trying to break a school frosh/soph record, according to Zvigzne.
“We would have probably won if he was throwing varsity,” Zvigzne said.
Senior Derek Hentschke won the varsity shot put and discus – but, with Best also throwing varsity, the Mustangs would have taken first and second in both events.
“That would have been the swing,” Zvigzne said. “That would have won it.”
The varsity boys won six more events – including freshman Jo Jo Gutierrez taking the tape in the 100m and 200m.
“He’s somebody to watch,” said Zvigzne of his young speedster. “This kid is very talented and a hard worker. He’s at every practice working hard.”
Junior Richard Tovar placed first in the 400m in 55.47, while junior Frankie Valadez won the high jump and Bryant won the triple jump. In addition, Gilroy won the 4 x 100 relay with a foursome of Louie Gutierrez, Jo Jo Gutierrez, Brandon Cortez and Melvin Bryant.
The varsity girls squad of only six competitors also lost to host Live Oak, 93-42, but once again there were plenty of winners.
“They did very well. We don’t have enough girls. We only had six today,” Zvigzne said. “That’s respectable for six girls.”
Senior Raquel Butler, ranked second in CCS, cruised to victory in the 400m in 58.66 and also won the 200m in 27.77.
“She was all by herself. She just cruised,” said Zvigzne of Butler. “She’s right where she should be.”
Junior Elena Ramirez was first in the 100m, while junior Sierra Barrozza won both the shot put and discus. Junior Stephanie Radtke placed second in the mile and the 800m, and senior Laila Correa finished third in the 200m.
The Lady Mustangs also won the mile relay with a team of Butler, Radtke, Correa and Ramirez.
“Our girls mile relay is going to be something interesting to watch at the league championships,” Zvigzne said.
Gilroy is finished with its league meets and will rest up for next weekend’s T-CAL Finals.
“Our idea is to just rest everybody up, recuperate and get strong, and stay loose. I want everybody to peak at league finals,” Zvigzne said. “The whole focus of the season is to do well there.”
The league preliminaries will be held at North Salinas High on Wednesday and the top finishers will compete at Live Oak High in the championship runs.
In junior varsity action, the Gilroy boys defeated Live Oak by an 81-38 margin.
“That’s a very impressive victory for them,” Zvigzne said. “They overpowered Live Oak.”
Along with Best winning the discus and shot, other JV winners were: Sophomore Allan Chan in the mile; sophomore Miles Amadeo in the 65m high hurdles and the 300m intermediate hurdles; sophomore Stephon McCrimmon in the 200m hurdles; and sophomore Christian Cania in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump. Gilroy’s JV 4 x 100 relay team also took first.
