Willow Glen Resident

Sports

Surprenant super at Top 8 Track Classic

By Mike Barnhart

When Eric Surprenant was introduced to the Top 8 Track and Field Classic crowd prior to the 300-meter hurdles race on April 18, the stadium announcer chuckled as he noted the Lynbrook senior's nickname, "Super Nintendo."

But just like the earlier 110 high hurdles event, which he won in a personal record and a section season best 14.53 seconds, Surprenant played no games with the competition.

He burst out of the blocks in lane four, made up the stagger, surged ahead on the curve and pulled away down the home stretch. The chilled crowd at Los Gatos High's Helm Field cheered for a new meet record, but Surprenant kicked the final hurdle and settled for 38.16, one-tenth off the mark set by Leigh's Guy McGowan in 1997.

A week earlier, Surprenant sped 38.09 to capture the 300 at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational in Southern California. It was the second-best effort in the state this season, smashing Yvan Pham's old Lynbrook record of 38.58 and building confidence within the 6-foot-3 Viking, who could be called "Cinderfella" because his ascent during the past 12 months truly has been a rags-to-riches story.

Suprenant's winning time in the 300 last Friday was nine seconds better than his last-place time of 47.46 at last year's Top 8 meet. He barely qualified for the Central Coast Section semifinals in 2007 and did not reach the finals, placing 13th in the highs in 15.89 and 16th in the 300 in 41.29.

For his impressive Top 8 hurdles double, Surprenant was honored as the male track athlete of the 29th annual event. Los Gatos pole vaulter Nico Weiler, the national leader after clearing 17-4 at Arcadia, was named the top field athlete after clearing 17-0.5, breaking his own meet record (16-8), and then thrilling the hometown crowd with a near miss at 17-6.5.

Josh Cusick, a senior from St. Lawrence Academy, was second with a leap of 15-6.

Including Weiler, four Los Gatos senior boys won gold medals in field events, leading the Wildcats to 75 points and the team championship, well ahead of runner-up St. Francis (36).

CCS leaders Kevin Rutledge and Colin Quirke won their specialties for the Cats, Rutledge leaping 22-10.5 in the long jump and Quirke improving his season best in the shot put to 59-4.5. Jackson Dallas won the discus with a heave of 152-1 and finished third in the shot with a toss of 51-2.

Rutledge also cleared 6-4 to gain third place in the high jump. Homestead senior Steven Humer won the event, tying his personal best of 6-6. Humer switched places with Rutledge in the long jump, Humer taking third with a leap of 21-2. Leigh senior Rob Pappas cleared 6-0 to tie for fifth in the high jump.

Lincoln senior Marquis Caldwell, who competed for Deer Valley of Antioch the past two seasons, won the long sprints, clocking 49.38 in the 400 and 22.55 in the 200.

To win the quarter mile, Caldwell had to outrace Oak Grove's Sebastian Sam (49.77), who entered the meet as the state leader in the 800 and sixth in the 400.

Running in lane 3, Caldwell was able to keep an eye on Sam and Saratoga senior Mike Marshall in lanes 4 and 5. Caldwell, who attended Lincoln as a freshman, took the lead in the final 10 meters and held on for the win.

Sam finished second and Marshall (50.45) was fourth. Pioneer junior Samuel Villegas ran 51.34 to win his heat and place seventh overall.

"I like to think I am a good 400 runner," said Caldwell, who placed fifth in the one-lapper at the North Coast Section championships last May, "but coach says the 200 is my best event."

Caldwell, third at the halfway point of the 200, surged ahead with about 30 meters to go and held off Jim Mezzera of St. Ignatius by .02. Leigh senior Alex Ellinwood (22.71) placed fourth, a stride ahead of Pioneer senior Marquee Heffner (22.71).

Earlier in the 100, Ellinwood captured his heat with 11.16 and finished second behind the other heat winner, St. Francis sophomore Glyn Borel (11.08). Heffner was second in Borel's heat in 11.30 and third overall.

Los Gatos senior Dylan Shawhan placed second in the 1,600 run with a season best of 4:17.65. Shawhan ran close behind the winner, Aptos' Rylan Hunt (4:16.11). Willow Glen junior Nohe Lema ran fourth in 4:22.65 and Los Gatos senior Michael Johnson was seventh in 4:25.34, two spots ahead of Saratoga junior Alan Menezes, who clocked a personal season best 4:27.44.

Willow Glen distance runner Mohamed Abdalla scratched from the event, but battled gusty winds to win the Bay Area Top 8 meet the next day in Union City in 4:24.56.

Frosh-soph boys winners included Pioneer sophomore Nathan Strum, whose 800 time of 1:58.9 was almost seven seconds faster than his previous best.

Nelms leads Leland

The chase for the girls team title was a close one, Milpitas taking first place with 44.5 to nose out Leland (43). Archbishop Mitty (38) finished third, just ahead of Los Gatos (34) and Saratoga (31).

The top female athlete awards went to Leland sophomore sprinter Katie Nelms, who clocked impressive times while winning two events and placing second in another, and Milpitas thrower Luisa Musika, who won the shot put and took second in the discus throw.

Nelms, who reached the 300 hurdles final at the state meet last year, won the Top 8 300 in 44.45, a second better than runner-up Nicole Sliva of Mitty. Earlier, she ran 14.99 for second in the 100 hurdles and zipped 12.24 to win the 100 dash.

"My start was really good in the 100 meters," Nelms said, "but I wasn't too happy with my 300 race. I have a lot I can improve upon there."

Although she was critical of herself, she did lower her CCS-leading time by 0.12. She ranks among the CCS leaders in the short sprints and both hurdles events.

"I'm pretty tired, but I thought this would be a good test," explained Nelms, who began running with a club team in fifth grade. "I want to qualify for the state in as many events as I can."

Los Gatos senior Christine Reed, who scaled 11-0 to share the pole vault title with Homestead senior Sarah Engle, later placed third in both hurdles events. She ran 15.52 in the 100 and 45.66 in the 300. Engle placed seventh in the 100 hurdles with 16.04.

Leland senior Kikita Fkiaras won her 100 hurdles heat in 15.89 and placed fifth, just behind Mitty's Aisha Lott (15.75). She came back to place seventh in the 300.

Westmont junior Kristine Ristow won her 300 heat in a season best 47.57 and placed sixth overall. Pioneer sophomore Kira Rienecker (48.43) finished behind Ristow for eighth.

In the 800, junior Poppy Lawman of The King's Academy, who led for much of the race, finished third in 2:17.62, her best time this year. Pioneer senior Toni Sarge (2:19.73) finished sixth.

Saratoga won the 1,600 relay team, which featured the Sabes sisters--Nicole and Rachel--combining with another set of twins, juniors Katie and Claire Marsh, to romp 4:04.18.

Second-place Leigh (4:08.34) also had a pair of sisters. Freshman Michelle Hopper and sophomore Melissa Hopper, run the first two legs, followed by junior Alena Roth and sophomore Jordan Diaz.

Earlier, Diaz scored a pair of fifths, running a season best of 5:08.87 in the 1,600 and going 59.63 in the 400. Roth was sixth in the 200 at 26.62.

Leland junior Stephanie Barnett ran a season best in the 1,600, placing sixth with 5:09.42, two spots ahead of Los Gatos senior Erin Fabris. Barnett (11:13.62) also placed third in the 3,200.

Mitty's Lott (36-1) won the triple jump. Cupertino senior Stephanie Glick (34-7.5) was second and Leland junior Lauren Chin (33-6) third.