MV's Reid, Thom set PRs to advance
By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer
 Alan Hwang/special to the town crier Los Altos High’s Eric Hersey, on the way to a win in the 110 hurdles Saturday, injured a hamstring prior to the 300 race. |
Los Altos High hurdler Eric Hersey went into Saturday’s Central Coast Section track and field semifinals as a near-lock to not only make the finals but get to the state meet as well.
He left with a leg injury, however, putting the rest of his season in jeopardy.
After winning the 110-meter hurdles, Hersey injured his hamstring warming up for the 300 hurdles and Eagles coach Julia Widstrand pulled him from the race.
“Working as he has all year and knowing this is his time of the season, it’s a major drag to see him get hurt,” Widstrand said. “Let’s hope it’s not too bad.”
The coach is hopeful that the injury - which “came out of nowhere,” Widstrand said - will be nothing more than a severe cramp, though she conceded that it may be a partial tear. Hersey was expected to see a doctor Monday.
Missing Friday’s CCS championship meet at San Jose City College would prevent Hersey from qualifying for state. The CCS leader in the 110 and 300 events, the junior advanced to state a year ago in the former and placed ninth.
The only consolation for Hersey is that he could still race in the nationals in late June. He qualified for the USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis with his time at the CCS semis. Hersey won in a personal-best 14.2 seconds.
“He ran an unbelievable race,” Widstrand said. “He had no competition whatsoever.”
Teammate Alec Nickolls faced stiff competition in the 1,600 run, grabbing the 12th and final spot in the CCS finals. The junior ran a 4:28.73 in the semis Saturday at San Jose City.
“He ran OK,” Widstrand said. “If he runs like he did at league, he has a chance at state.”
Among the Los Altos girls qualifying for the finals, Bria Nelson appears to have the best shot at making state. The junior will run the 200 and 400 dashes Friday and also anchor the Eagles’ 4×400 relay.
Nelson won her 400 heat at the semis with a 58.77, though she finished seventh overall. She was eighth in the 200, clocking a 26.14.
“She had trouble with her start,” Widstrand said of Nelson’s 200, “but she didn’t run horribly.”
The coach said Nelson, who made state a year ago, will need to run with more desire Friday if she hopes to advance.
Nelson’s best effort came in the relay, where she ran a 56.9 over the last 400 meters. The team - which also includes Kristen Rowsey, Martina Mickos and Sarah Lyttle - took fifth with a 4:02.72.
“They ran OK, but not quite where we want them to be for this race (Friday),” Widstrand said. “They rely too much on Bria to win.”
Alyssa Biondi rounds out the Los Altos contingent heading to the finals. The sophomore’s 12.61 in the 100 dash proved good enough for second in her heat and seventh overall.
“She ran a nice race to qualify, but it still wasn’t her best time,” Widstrand said.
Spartans sending two
Reid, a junior, ran a school-record 1:57.26 to win his heat and seize third overall in the 800.
“It was an incredible run,” Spartan coach Sam Read said. “He was in control the whole time and when he made his move with 200 meters to go, he ran away from the field.”
Thom, a sophomore, jumped a season-best 17 feet to place seventh in the long jump.
“She had a fantastic jump and it was perfect timing to jump so well to advance,” Read said.
Lancers well represented
Ben Sitler paced St. Francis with wins in the boys 1,600 and 3,200 runs. The senior ran the 1,600 in 4:17.29 and the 3,200 in 9:27.61.
Casey Roche also qualified in two individual events. The junior won the pole vault by clearing 16 feet and took fifth in the long jump with a 22-3.
Kyle Mills-Bunje was expected to join Roche in both events Friday, but the senior no-heighted in the pole vault. He did win the long jump, however, leaping 22-11 3/4. Mills-Bunje is also part of the Lancers’ 4×100 relay, which placed third with a 43.01.
The other St. Francis boys advancing include Sam Pompei in the 800 (second, 1:56.93), Omar Bourgob in the high jump (fourth, 6-2), Ben Sheehan in the pole vault (third, 14-6) and shot putters David Wernick (second, 54-0) and Andy Vargas (fourth, 53-1).
Sela Paini led the St. Francis girls, winning the discus with a throw of 141-10. The Lancers qualified two girls in the pole vault: Natasha Barthel (second, 12-6) and Taylor Franklin (fourth, 11-6). St. Francis also received third-place finishes from Samantha Williams in the 400 dash (57.96) and Katherine Ring in the triple jump (36-4).
The Lancers qualified both relay teams as well. The 4×100 team won its heat and took fourth overall with a 49.52; the 4×400 also won its heat, yet just squeaked into the finals with an eighth-place finish overall at 4:06.01.
