St. Francis runner among several locals headed to CCS semifinals
By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer
 Ben Sitler, a senior at St. Francis, won all three distance events at the WCAL finals last Saturday at Serra. |
Ben Sitler swept the distance events and set a personal record at the West Catholic Athletic League track and field championships, leading the St. Francis High boys to the team title.
The senior won the 800-meter run, the 1,600 and 3,200 at Saturday’s meet, held at Serra High. His time of 1 minute, 55.84 seconds “was a big PR for him in the 800,” Lancers distance coach Brian Curley said. Sitler clocked a 4:21.4 in the 1,600 and a 9:26.8 in the 3,200.
St. Francis also won three other events on the way to securing the team championship with 126 points (Bellarmine was a distant second with 92). Kyle Mills-Bunje captured the long jump (22 feet, 9 inches), Casey Roche won the pole vault (16 feet) and David Wernick claimed the shot put (55-4). Mills-Bunje also took second in the 100 dash (11.12) and pole vault (16-0), while Roche was the runner-up in the long jump (21-9).
Other Lancers placing in the top three and advancing to Saturday’s Central Coast Section semifinals at San Jose City College include Sam Pompei in the 800 (second, 1:56.00), Ben Sheehan in the pole vault (third, 14-6) and Chris Vargas in the discus (third, 151-3).
The St. Francis girls (116 points) placed second to Valley Christian-San Jose at the WCAL championships. The Lancers won three events: Natasha Barthel in the pole vault (12-10), Katherine Ring in triple jump (35-7 3/4) and Sela Paini in the discus (132-9). Rachel Gate placed second in both hurdles races, running a 16.64 in the 100 and a 46.72 in the 300.
St. Francis also received top-three finishes from Samantha Williams in the 400 run (third, 58.14), Shelby Golan in the 1,600 (third, 5:24.98), the 4×100 relay (third, 49.74), the 4×400 relay (second, 4:02.07) and Taylor Franklin in the pole vault (second, 12-0).
Many from MV move on
“We had a very exciting meet on Saturday, with Robbie Reid placing first in the 800 meters and setting a new school record in the process,” coach Sam Read said.
Reid won the boys 800 in 1:57.75. The junior also anchored the 4×400 relay “that came very close to our old record,” Read said. The relay - also featuring Alec Botsford, Daren Cejna and Roger Huang - ran a 3:30.95; the school record is 3:30.27. The foursome placed fourth in Saturday’s race and advances to the CCS semis.
The Spartans’ 4×100 relay of Kevin Metsers, Derek Tsai, Chris Wong and David Lee also qualified, notching third with a 44.74. Lee, who Read said, “had a great meet,” also made it in the 100 dash (11.37) and 200 (23.08) by placing fourth in both. Others advancing include Devin Mooers in the 110 hurdles (fourth, 16.14), Nikolai Lemak (fourth, 137-3) and Jesse Griffin (fifth, 134-6) in the discus and Kevin Metsers in the long jump (fourth, 21-1).
Cheryl Kaestner led the Mountain View girls, winning the high jump by clearing 5 feet. Abby Damm claimed second in the long jump (16-7) and teammate Kelly Thom was third (16-4).
The 4×100 relay team of Claudia Lam, Brittney Lujano, Kate Kornegay and Kate Blood ran a season-best 51.29 for third. Also advancing: Kornegay in the 100 hurdles (fourth, 16.30), Katherine Johnson in the shot put (fourth, 33-5) and Gabi Kuftinec in the triple jump (fifth, 33-6).
Hersey, Nelson lead LA
The junior set a school record in the 110, clocking a 14.25, despite clipping six hurdles. He was one-hundredth of a second away from qualifying for the USTA Junior Nationals, which Eagles coach Julia Widstrand expects him to do before the season is over.
Hersey blew away the competition in the 300; his time of 39.32 was four seconds ahead of the runner-up.
He also ran the first leg of Los Altos’ 4×400 relay, which finished third in a season-best 3:30. The relay also included Kyle Grimm, Alexander Oliver and Dana McDaniel.
McDaniel prevailed in the 200 dash with a 22.50, one of his best times of the season. Also qualifying for the CCS semifinals were Alec Nickolls in the 1,600 (fifth, 4:33.98) and Michael Imprescia in the high jump (fourth, 5-10).
Bria Nelson paced the Los Altos girls, winning the 400 run (57.92) and coming in second in the 200 (25.94). She was also the anchor on the Eagles’ victorious 4×400 relay that also included Kristen Rowsey, Martina Mickos and Sarah Lyttle.
“It was a beautiful win for them,” Widstrand said of their season-best effort of 4:02. “It was exactly what they needed.”
Los Altos also qualified two girls in the 100 das Alyssa Biondi (third, 12.63) and Briana Spears (fifth, season-best 12.98).
