Michelle Beritzhoff

Cats run to Firebird meet titles

Bates, Beritzhoff set new course records

By Dick Sparrer

Willie Harmatz couldn't decide whose effort pleased him more at the Firebird Invitational in Sunnyvale last week--Matt Bates' in the boys varsity division or Michelle Beritzhoff's in the girls varsity class.

But, then, that's not exactly a problem for the Los Gatos cross-country coach. After all, both Gatos runners broke records on the flat 2.05-mile course at Fremont last Thursday.

Bates covered the 2-plus miles in 9:38 to trim 10 seconds off the course mark of 9:48 set in 1998 by Los Altos sensation Andrew Hill, and Beritzhoff topped the field with her 11:29, besting the previous course record of 12:14 set in 1998 by Saratoga's Anne Ricketts.

"She took over on the first grass lap," said Harmatz of Beritzhoff. "She made it look easy."

"She'll be very tough to beat in the Central Coast Section," added Harmatz. "She can compete with anyone in the state."

The coach was equal in his praise of Bates.

"Once he got into position and took off, he was unbeatable," said the coach of his senior standout.

The only runner who came close to Bates in the race was teammate Tomas Viramontes, who also finished under the old record in 9:43 to claim second.

The one-two finish by Bates and Viramontes helped the Cats coast to the team title at the Firebird. Gatos ran up a low 35 points to finish well ahead of runner-up Logan (82).

Darren Key ended up third for the Wildcats in 10:15 with Jeff Hoeft 11th in 10:25 and Greg Tolan 14th in 10:35. Clay McKell ended up 31st in 11:13 with Mike Rossmassler 42nd in 11:42.

The Wildcats were even more dominant in the girls varsity division. The Cats rolled to a low 29 points to 52 for second-place Logan.

Beritzhoff was first and set a course record, but she was just one of six Gatos runners to finish in the top 10.

Ashley Caldwell was fifth in 12:41 with Lynsey Harris seventh in 12:43, Mallory Thornton eighth in 12:52, Jen Rubnitz ninth in 12:53 and Marisa Teel 10th in 12:57.

"After Michelle, our pack looks great," said Harmatz. "We run well together."

The Wildcats also won the girls junior varsity title at the Firebird, running up 51 points to 72 for second-place Milpitas.

Ashley Harris was fourth in 14:32 with Kate Leary fifth in 14:39 and Shannon Kehrig ninth in 14:54. Laura Rossmassler was 15th in 15:21 with Stacey Adams 16th in 15:25 and Ali Emmons 18th in 15:39.

Randy West ended up 16th in 11:42 to lead the Gatos effort in the boys frosh-soph race. Steve Witham was 18th in 11:49.

Earlier in the week, the Los Gatos girls had run to victory in the Logan Invitational. Beritzhoff was first in 12:34 on the 2.0-mile course with Thornton third in 13:08, Erica Williams fourth in 13:11, Caldwell seventh in 13:19, Carolyn Penner eighth in 13:21 and Rubnitz 10th in 13:27.

Kristi Yackle won the girls JV race ion 14:02 with Kehrig ninth in 15:58.

The Los Gatos boys opened the season at the Early Bird Invitational in Castroville and raced to a team win. Viramontes finished first overall in 16:33 on the 3.1-mile course with Bates fourth in 17:11, Key 12th in 17:36, Tolan 16th in 17:47 and Hoeft 17th in 17:50.

The Wildcats will be back on course this week when they compete in the Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 21, 3 p.m.

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