Senior Raquel Butler advances in 400m, 200m, 100m; Junior Frank
Valadez qualifies in high jump for GHS
SAN JOSE – Senior Raquel Butler and junior Frank Valadez both proved they are among the section’s elite, as the two Gilroy High track standouts advanced out of Saturday’s CCS Semi-Finals and into Friday night’s CCS Finals.
“It’s a wonderful track meet to be part of and to watch. It’s quick because there are no trials, just all finals,” said head coach Guido Zvigzne of the May 28 Finals in San Jose. “It’s going to be a nailbiter. We’ll just have to root and pray for Raquel to get in.”
Butler won her heat in the 400-meter run in 57.52 to qualify with the third fastest time overall at San Jose City College. Butler needs to finish in the top three in her championship race on the same track to move on to her second CIF State Finals.
“She looked really good when I saw her. I was sitting around the first turn and she just was so poised and in control of race,” said head coach Guido Zvigzne of Butler. “She let up a little bit at the end.”
The seasoned veteran, who qualified for her first state meet as a sophomore in the 100m, did not run her quickest race of the season, but did win her semi-final heat by three strides.
“I’ve got a feeling she held a back a little bit,” Zvigzne said. “She’s a very smart runner. She has it all planned out. She knows what she has to do. She does not want to waste energy.”
Butler also advanced in the 100m – where she also won her heat in 12.56 for fifth overall – and the 200m – where she finished second in her heat in 25.46 for fourth overall.
“I’ve never seen her look better in four years. She’s having the perfect track season so far. She knows the terrain. She knows when it counts. She knows this is the big-time,” Zvigzne said. “She really wants to go to state meet. Next week, it really counts.”
Valadez advanced to his first-ever section finals in the high jump, clearing six feet to tie three other competitors with the four leaders getting over at six feet-two inches.
“He’s a very consistent technician,” said Zvigzne of his second CCS qualifier. “The top jump is not too far off.”
Sophomore thrower Robert Best seemed to be headed to his first CCS Finals as well, winning his flight in the shot put with a distance of 49 feet-1/2 inches. But Best was knocked out of the qualifying cut after the final group of throwers had seven crack the 50-foot mark. Best was edged out by Monterey High senior Jeff McGaster (49-05.75) for the final spot.
“He got bumped out of there, but it’s a good experience for him,” said Zvigzne of Best. “He’s only a sophomore.”
Best, the league champion in both the discus and shot put, also missed the cut in the discus with a solid throw of 146 feet-one inch. Senior Derek Hentschke finished fifth in his flight with a throw of 130 feet-10 inches.
Junior long-distance runner Stephanie Radtke finished 13th in the 1,600m, or mile, in her first section experience.
“I think she was a little nervous. She got butterflies and maybe was tired from last week. She might have peaked early,” Zvigzne said. “It was a little overwhelming for her when she looked at the other girls’ times.”
Radtke crossed the finish line in 5:40.94.
“She ran courageously. She stayed up with the pack. She finished where we expected,” Zvigzne said. “We’re looking more to next year. This was a good milestone tha she made it here. She was able to see what it’s like. She can have a clear vision of what to work for next year.”
Junior Sierra Barroza finished fourth in her semifinal flight for girls discus with a throw of 108-feet-four inches, while senior Lucio Gutierrez placed seventh in his 100m heat in 11.67.
“There is something special about this group,” said Zvigzne of this year’s Mustangs.
