Los Gatos sophomore Matt Bates fights his way through a crowd of runners on his way to a sixth-place finish in the 1,600 meters at the CCS finals.

Photograph by Dai Sugano

Sophomores star at CCS

Young Wildcats lead effort at track finals

By Dick Sparrer

There is no frosh-soph competition at the Central Coast Section level.

But that didn't keep talented Los Gatos sophomores Heather Hennessy, Matt Bates and Russ Martin from starring at the CCS track and field championships held May 28 at San Jose City College.

Hennessy raced to a third-place finish in the 800 meters to qualify for the state meet set for June 4-5 at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento.

Bates was sixth in the 1,600 meters, and Martin finished seventh in the 3,200 meters, each of them finishing among the top sophomores in the section.

Gatos juniors didn't fare so badly at the CCS finals, either. Weight star Anne Farnady was seventh in the discus, and distance standout Zach Regner was seventh in the 1,600 meters.

What's more, a freshman-dominated girls 4x400 relay team also placed at CCS, missing a trip to the state meet by a single yard.

All in all, not a bad day for the young Wildcats.

It was Hennessy leading the way for the Cats with her third-place finish in the 800. Despite a painful shin injury, she finished in 2:14.7, good for second on the Los Gatos all-time list.

"She was our highest place finisher on the team, and it was the first time any CCS girl has beaten her all season," said Los Gatos coach Willie Harmatz. "And she's only a sophomore, so she'll be back."

The injury, a possible stress fracture, kept her out of the 4x400 relay and may keep her out of the state meet. Still, she's the 14th Los Gatos runner to qualify for state in the 800 meters in Harmatz's 20-year coaching career at the school.

Hennessy's time matched the 2:14.7 that Laura Henry ran for Gatos in 1984, but missed the school mark of 2:10.2 set by Stephanie Chavez in 1997.

Hennessy was unable to compete in the 4x400 relay, but senior Amy LaPine teamed with freshmen Katie Zuparko, Aly Chavez and Michelle Beritzhoff to run 4:02.95 and finish fourth overall.

Only the top three finishers advance to state, though, and the Wildcats finished a yard behind third-place Salinas (4:02.62).

LaPine anchored the race in a season best 58.8, even though she too was hampered by a stress fracture in her foot.

"She showed all guts and heart, running the race with the injury," said Harmatz of LaPine.

"There were four teams together coming off the last turn, and all four fighting for the third state meet spot," he said. "We were one yard short."

"But I'm so proud of them," said Harmatz of the members of the speedy quartet. "Katie (61.1) and Aly (59.5) ran fantastic! What a future we have."

Junior weight star Anne Farnady is part of the bright future of the Los Gatos girls track and field team. She heaved the discus 116-3 to finish seventh at CCS.

"She threw 126-2 in the semifinals last week," said Harmatz. "She's just a junior so she'll be back, too. And her improvement has been great."

Gatos standouts

Bates, Regner and Martin were standouts for the Los Gatos boys team at CCS, and all three will return next spring.

Bates was sixth in the 1,600, breaking the school frosh-soph mile record in the process. His 4:23.37 snapped the previous record shared by Bebe Rutledge (1994) and Peter Carter (1995).

"He kicked a little early, and took the lead with 200 to go," said Harmatz. But he ended up sixth, just over two seconds off the winning pace of 4:21.26 set by D.J. Ozan of Del Mar.

"Matt put everything on the line in this race," added the coach. "He was totally focused to push the best in CCS."

Bates is the No. 1 frosh-soph miler in CCS this year, and his time was good for No. 9 on the all-time Los Gatos list.

"He has improved tremendously over the past two years," said Harmatz.

Close behind Bates in the 1,600 field was Regner. The junior finished seventh in 4:24.2, his second-best effort ever. He ranks No. 10 on the Gatos all-time list. "Zach had a great season," said the coach. "He has run a 1:57.7 in the 800, and he's been a great leader of our distance group this year."

Martin joined Bates as a sophomore placer at CCS, finishing seventh in the two-mile in 9:35.1. He bettered his previous best of 9:39 by almost four seconds to jump to No. 7 on the LG all-time list.

"Russ had another great last lap to finish strong again," said Harmatz of Martin, who ranks as the second best sophomore in the CCS two-mile this season.

Farnady a semi sensation

Farnady led the Gatos effort at the CCS semi-finals a week earlier at City College. The powerful junior won the discus event with her toss of 126-2.

Hennessy won her heat in the 800 in 2:18.1 to advance to the CCS finals, but an ill Beritzhoff failed to qualify with a 2:27.0.

The 4x400 relay team of Zuparko (61.8), Chavez (60.7), LaPine (61.1) and Hennessy (60.3) ran 4:03.8 to win their heat and move on to the finals.

Amie Salfen, Meghan Kirby-McFarland, Chavez and Karisse Leis ran a season-best 50.3 to finish fifth in their heat in the 4x100 relay, but missed a trip to the CCS finals.

Bates was second in his heat and third overall with a 4:24.4 in the 1,600 meters at the semi's. Regner also qualified with his 4:29.0, and Martin qualified for the 3,200-meter finals with a ninth-place finish at the semifinals.

Jeff Hoeft ran 2:01.0 to place ninth overall in the 800, but missed a trip to the finals. He also teamed with Bates, Brian Edwards and Matt Hintz to run 3:32.9 in the 4x400 relay. The team didn't qualify for the finals, but did come within 1.5 seconds of the school frosh-soph record. All four runners are sophomores, and Hintz was running just his third 400 ever.

Sub-section stars

Los Gatos athletes recorded some outstanding marks at the CCS Sub-section meet held in mid-May at Los Gatos.

Regner raced to a first in the mile in 4:23.2 and was fifth in the 800 in 1:59.5 after finishing third in his heat.

He also got together with Bates, Hoeft and Edwards to run eighth in the 4x400 relay in 3:29.7.

Bates was fourth in the mile in 4:27.0 after finishing second in his heat, and Martin was ninth in the two-mile in 9:48.5.

Hoeft covered the 800 in 1:59.8 to finish eighth overall, clinching a semifinal berth when Regner dropped the 800 to concentrate on the mile.

Freshman Eric Medeffessor was 12th in the high jump at 5-8, sophomore Seung Lee ran 16.1 in the 110 high hurdles, and soph Nick Skrabe heaved the shot put 46-0 and the discus 120-0.

"They didn't qualify," said Harmatz of the three, "but they all had great seasons."

Edwards, a late addition to the track team, ran 23.5 in the 200 and joined with sophomores John Webb, Lee and Brian Starr to run 45.9 in the 4x100 relay. "He didn't qualify," said Harmatz of Edwards, "but he was the top sophomore sprinter in the league."

In girls action, Hennessy won the 800 in 2:17.7, and Farnady was second in the discus at 119-0.

Beritzhoff was second in her heat and sixth overall in the 800, and she joined with Zuparko, Chavez and LaPine to run 4:04.0 and finish first in the 4x400 relay.

The foursome of Salfen, Kirby-McFarland, Chavez and Leis ran a season-best 50.4 to finish sixth overall in the 4x100 relay.

Sarah McAleer ran 11:58.1 in the two-mile to qualify for the CCS semi's.

LaPine was second in her heat in the 800 in 2:22.5, but failed to qualify.

Freshman Kim Christiansen soared 33-4 in the triple jump (her 34-11 3/4 at the league finals ranks No. 6 on the all-time list), but missed qualifying for the semi's.

Emily Obermeier went 4-8 in the high jump, Kirby-McFarland ran 12.68 in the 100 to finish eighth overall, and Emily King posted a solid mark in the long jump. All three are sophomores.

Police Report

Columnist notes differences between writers, engineers

LGHS seniors prepare for grad night

Obituaries

Picture From the Past: Orchard heritage

Sports Briefs

Los Gatos sophomores star at CCS track championships

Wildcats lose heartbreaker at CCS volleyball semi-finals

West Valley baseball player named MVP