This week provided a positive progress report for the GHS cross
country teams.
This week provided a positive progress report for the GHS cross country teams.
Just five days after competing at a TCAL jamboree at Toro Park in Salinas, both Mustang squads returned to the site Monday and nearly every one of the runners showed an improved time.
“That was nice to see because it’s like comparing apples and apples,” head coach Cathy Silva said.
Competing against Salinas and North Salinas, the GHS boys finished second behind the Cowboys in both varsity and junior varsity.
Despite injuring his foot playing soccer over the weekend, junior Arnulfo Velasquez (17:28) led the Mustangs and finished second in the race.
In addition, Gilroy placed three other runners under 19 minutes: seniors Randy Higashi (18:30) and Darrin Amerson (18:46) and junior Allan Chan (18:54), all of whom posted lower times than last week.
On the JV side, sophomore Parminder Thandy reduced his time by a remarkable three minutes
The girls, meanwhile, ran individually because the Lady Mustangs did not have the required number of varsity-ready runners.
The ones that did run, though, all improved their times. Senior Stephanie Radke ran her three miles in 21:09. Sophomore Megan Litle, who transferred from a high school in Southern California, finished right behind her, while freshman Erin Chan and senior Christina Hernandez both improved by two minutes.
“It was a little cooler … that helped,” said Silva, whose team will host Palma and Notre Dame Sept. 27. “But mostly it’s because the kids have been working really hard on their speed and endurance.
“Overall, I think they did awesome.”
