Sarah Unadia went into the Tri-County Athletic League
championships Friday at Gilroy High with low expectations.
Gilroy – Sarah Unadia went into the Tri-County Athletic League championships Friday at Gilroy High with low expectations.
Her mindset entering the 100 meters – an event in which the Mustang freshman was the top seed – was simple.
“Just stay confident and just think positive and cross the finish line going all out,” she said.
When she did cross that finish line, the rest of the field was behind her and her time of 16.75 was more than a half-second better than the second-place finisher.
“This is unexpected,” Unadia said. “Just the thought of going to CCS as a freshman – that pushed myself to get the best time.”
With three more years ahead of her and a league title already under her belt, Unadia knows it can only get better.
“I know I can improve my time so much,” she said.
Megan McAvoy joined Unadia as the only Mustangs to earn league titles when the senior took first in the girls high jump. McAvoy, San Benito’s Ellen Dungy and North Salinas’ Audrey Sanchez all cleared 4-11 and all missed on their attempts at 5-1, so McAvoy was awarded the title for having cleared 4-11 on fewer attempts. She also snatched a fifth-place finish in the long jump.
Freshman Elise Ogle broke her own school record with her time of 5:10.14 in the 1,600 meters. But San Benito’s Courtney Allen was just a bit faster, taking home a new meet record with her first-place time of 5:08.61. Ogle’s second-place finish is still good enough to qualify her for CCS.
Sophomore Kathleen Miller also qualified for CCS with her second-place time of 11:31.48 in the 3,200. Miller and first-place finisher Shannon McVannel both broke the previous meet record of 11:40.51.
With top seed Tannia Hernandez receiving a false start disqualification in the 100 meters, Gilroy sophomore Ariana Vera took advantage and grabbed second to earn the a CCS spot with her time of 13.35. She later took third in the 200 meters, finishing 3/100 of a second behind the second-place finisher.
Marshod Johnson was the lone Gilroy boy to earn representation into CCS. He took second in the triple jump at 41-7 to do so.
Derek Pesta entered the 1,600 meters seeded third, but faltered on the final lap and took fifth to miss out on CCS. He also took fifth in the 3,200 meters.
In the team competition, the San Benito boys won their sixth straight league title, beating out Palma 152-140. Gilroy finished seventh with 20 points. On the girls side, San Benito made it a clean sweep by beating out Salinas 148.33-138.33. Gilroy was fourth at 62.33, finishing just behind North Salinas at 65.
“We’re making strides in our program,” second-year coach Jeff Myers said. “The kids are starting to understand the bigger picture of track and field. We’re hosting big meets and going to big meets. We’re not there yet as far as competing for a team title.”
Note: Gilroy’s Bobby Best did not hold onto his meet record in the discus for very long. His mark of 163-9 that he set last year was broken Friday when Alisal’s Cesar Puga had a toss of 166-6.
