SALINAS VALLEY — The ability to score points in every event earned the Gonzales High boys track and field team the Santa Lucia Division championship last Friday at Dick Force Stadium.
The Spartans outscored second-place Marina, 166-102, securing the Gonzales boys’ first-ever track and field title.
Gonzales head coach Margie Daniels felt her team was ready to make a statement and compete as one with the home-field advantage.
“What makes this special isn’t just the title, it’s how they did it,” Daniels said. “Every athlete contributed, every point mattered, and they competed for something bigger than themselves. That’s what a true championship team looks like. I absolutely think the facilities made a huge difference. It’s what happens when you invest in our students.”
The Spartans had beaten every Santa Lucia Division foe during the season at home and away and were 100% healthy to compete at home for a chance at the championship.
“I did everything I could to provide them all the tools and opportunities to get better,” Daniels said. “When they took all that, they proved to me they were ready and that gave me the confidence in my athletes.”
At Greenfield High, first-year head coach Rudy Amezcua felt his girls track and field team was ready to compete for a championship about the halfway mark of the dual meet season.
“These girls want to put in the work to improve,” Amezcua said. “There were no egos out there after we saw some early success. As a new coaching staff, we went out to school and encouraged boys and girls to come out for the team. Our girls won the title and our boys placed third, so it was a great season.”
The championship was the first track and field title for the girls program at Greenfield.
BOYS SCORES: 1. Gonzales 166; 2. Marina 102; 3. Greenfield 84; 4. Soledad 53; 5. Pajaro Valley; 6. GB Kirby; 7. Oakwood and Pacific Collegiate.
GIRLS SCORES: 1. Greenfield 156; 2. Pajaro Valley 88; 3. Marina 54; 4. Soledad; 5. Gonzales; 6. Pacific Collegiate; 7. Anzar 16; 8. Ceiba College Prep; 9. Oakwood 4.
At Andy Hardin Stadium last Friday, the King City boys and girls track programs competed at the Gabilan Division championships. The Mustang boys finished in fourth place and the Lady Mustangs finished in sixth.
BOYS SCORES: 1. Hollister 161; 2. Palma 133; 3. Salinas 64; 4. King City 62; 5. North Monterey County 38; 6. Alisal 37.
GIRLS SCORES: 1. Hollister 134; 2. Palma 100; 3. North Monterey County 76; 4. Salinas 74; 5. Alisal 72; 6. King City 39.
This Friday, athletes from South Monterey County will compete at the Masters Meet taking place at Monte Vista Christian High School in Watsonville. The first four finishers from the Gabilan Division will be automatic qualifiers and the first two places from the San Lucia Division will be automatic qualifiers. First-place finishers from the division finals are All-League.
Top finishers from the Masters Meet will qualify for the Central Coast Section Semifinals that will take place on Saturday, May 16, at Gilroy High School.
Masters Qualifiers — Boys
GONZALES: Jordan Askew (2nd 400 54.7); Victor Fierros (2nd 800 2:06); Alejandro Rodriguez, Jonathan Chavez, Josiah Guerrero, Santiago Cuevas (2nd 4 x 100 relay 44.9); Aaron Hernandez, Jonathan Chavez, Josiah Guerrero, Jordan Askew (1st 4 x 400 relay 3:44); Silvestre Arrellanes (1st high jump 5-8); Brandy Ochoa (1st pole vault 8-3); Josiah Guerrero (1st long jump 20-6); Joshua Mariscal (1st triple jump 38-9); Nicolas Reyes (2nd triple jump 38-2).
GREENFIELD: Jose Chavez (1st 110 hurdles 17.9) and (2nd 300 hurdles 45.3); Rodrigo Zavala (1st shot put 41.9); Travis Ryan (1st discus 113-9).
SOLEDAD: Christian Gonzalez (2nd 100 11.6); Ricardo Flores (2nd shot put 39-7) and (2nd discus 109-8).
KING CITY: Carson Tidwell (4th 100 11.1); John Angel Ruelas (4th 200 22.7) and (4th 400 51.2); Elijah Macias, Alex Macias, John Angel Ruelas, Carson Tidwell (3rd 4 x 100 relay 44.0); Isaiah Garcia, Andre Garcia, Juan Loa, John Angel Ruelas (4th 4 x 400 Relay 3:36.8); Armando Villasenor (1st discus 140-8); Savian Torres (2nd pole vault 13-6); Alex Macias (2nd long jump 20-8.75).
Masters Qualifiers — Girls
GREENFIELD: Alexeen Sanchez (1st 100 14.1) and (1st 200 29.5); Arlene Cruz (2nd 400 1:04), (1st high jump 4-8) and (1st triple jump 31-0); lzoida Ramirez (2nd 800 2:39) and (2nd 3200 12:11); Marlenne Hernandez (1st 300 hurdles 56.5); Alexeen Sanchez, Amanda Castro, Isabella Krasta, Susana Florez (2nd 4 x 100 relay 4:39): Lizbeth Perez-Bello (2nd shot put 27-3); Alyssa Garcia (2nd discus 71-4); Amanda Castro (2nd high jump 4-4).
SOLEDAD: Atiana Landeros (2nd 200 29.8); Justina Botello, Karissa Zepeda, Isabella Krasta, Brieanna Phillips (2nd 4 x 100 relay 54.2).
GONZALES: Liz Baguio (1st shot put 30-7) and (1st discus 81-0).
KING CITY: Rosa Pacheco (4th 400 12.4), (3rd 1600 5:36.9) and (4th 3200 12:04); Jolea Celaya (3rd 100 hurdles 17.0), (2nd 300 hurdles 46.2) and (4th high jump 4-6); Melissa Iglesias (1st discus 88-7).
