By Pete Borello

Around The Track

Los Altos, Mountain View, St. Francis, Gunn and Homestead highs all will be represented at Saturday’s Central Coast Section track and field semifinals.

These area schools had athletes perform well enough at last Saturday’s CCS North Sub-Section meet to make the semifinals, slated for 10 a.m. at Los Gatos High.

The top seven finishers in each Sub-Section event - except the 1,600-meter run (top nine) and 3,200 run (11) - qualified for the semifinals.

Of the local schools, St. Francis will have the most representatives at Saturday’s meet.

The St. Francis girls are sending four individuals and a relay team to the semis.

At the Sub-Section, Natasha Buxton finished third in the pole vault (9 feet, 6 inches), Annie Leemhuis fourth in the 100-meter dash (13.28), Kristen Mulenburg fourth in the discus (110-10) and Julia Gordon seventh in the 1,600 (5:26.97). The 400 relay team, which includes Leemhuis, came in sixth (51.15).

On the boys’ side, Brad Libuit and William Faules will each participate in two events for the Lancers. Libuit placed fourth in the triple jump (41-10 1/4) and seventh in the high jump (6-2). Sophomore Faules took fourth in the 110-meter hurdles (15.97 seconds) and sixth in the 300 hurdles (40.30). Teammate Ian Kenworthy finished third in the 110 hurdles (15.89).

St. Francis dominated the pole vault, with Kyle Williams winning (15-0), Joe Makley taking third (13-0) and Matt Lane seventh (12-0).

Also moving on is junior Chris Chisam, who notched fourth in the discus (155-2).

Los Altos is sending four athletes to the semis, two from each team.

For the girls, Allie Miller finished third in the 300 hurdles (46.8) and sixth in the 100 hurdles (16.7). Laura Perry took seventh in the 800 run (2:23.12).

Turning to the boys, Aaron Kaye finished fifth in the 1,600 (4:27.37) and Joey Toney seventh in the 300 hurdles (40.62).

Although Mountain View qualified only two competitors for the semis, coach Sam Read was pleased with the Spartans’ overall performance.

“(Saturday) we had a really great showing at the CCS Sub-section,” she said. “We had a couple of season-best performances.”

Freshman Dawn Maxey advances in two events: the girls triple jump (fourth, 34-9 3/4) and 100 hurdles (seventh, 16.89). Richard Turner will compete in the boys 400 run (50.65).

Gunn had a big day at the Sub-Section, qualifying for the semis in seven events.

Five of the competitors are members of the girls team, including 3,200 winner Ruth Graham (11:08.60).

Elise Geiger finished second in the 200 run (26.24), Ninji Martin fourth in the shot put (35-2 1/4), Jessamyn Conell-Price fifth in the 800 (2:20.82) and Jill Carpenter fifth in the 300 hurdles (47.42).

For the boys, Andrew Lipkin placed seventh in the 3,200 (10:04.10) and the 1,600 relay team was sixth (3:29.60).

Homestead’s lone representative will be Ben Vesterger, who won the 300 hurdles (39.41).

Those who finish high enough in the semifinals advance to the CCS finals May 25 at San Jose City College.