runners

By John Devine
  Gilroy >> The sequel never materialized.
  Kayla Clayton wasn't in the mood to run with anyone.
  "She surprised me,'' Notre Dame freshman Angela Leavitt admitted.
 The pair had run side-by-side in their last battle four weeks ago with Leavitt using her speed to out kick Clayton at the Salinas City Meet Championships.
 This time Clayton set a blistering pace from the start, building a lead that deflated Leavitt, capturing Saturday's Monterey Bay League cross country title at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy.
 "As much as it hurts to run hard, it feels better knowing you didn't leave anything left,'' said Clayton, who helped the Cowboys to a second place finish behind San Benito in the Gabilan Division finals.
 Leavitt's effort was enough to win the Pacific Division title, propelling Notre Dame to its first team title, and a likely ticket to the Gabilan Division next year.
  The same can said for Palma, who watched Sam Lavorato lead from start to finish in capturing the boys Pacific team title. San Benito won the Gabilan boys team title.
 Both divisions were run simultaneously at the league finals. Times and divisions will dictate who advances to the Central Coast Section championships in two weeks at Crystal Springs in Belmont.
 "It will be nice to run with the big boys next year,'' said Lavorato, in speaking about Palma's likely move to the Gabilan next fall. "We're a program that has grown up.''
 Losing to Leavitt in the Salinas City Meet had lingered in the back of Clayton's mind. It served as incentive at the league finals, as it will be the last time the two face each other.''
 "I didn't want to leave any doubts, knowing this is my final league race,'' said Clayton, a senior. "I didn't like finishing second.''
Clayton had won three previous Gabilan Division Center meets. And while no one was standing in her path in the Gabilan race, Leavitt's presence got the juices flowing.
"I think she strived off the fact that she could run with me,'' Clayton said. "I went out harder than I normally do.''
 Almost 20 seconds faster in the first mile as Clayton built a commanding 60 meter lead.
 "I usually go out in a 5:55 to 6:00 mile,'' Clayton said. "Today I was at 5:40. It felt easy. I felt more relaxed.''
 By the time Clayton had reached the hills, there was no one within her vision.
 "I knew the race was mine,'' said Clayton, who broke 18 minutes over three miles for the first time in her career, clocking 17:57.
 "Each race is a stepping stone,'' Clayton said. "I wanted to break 18 minutes. But I wanted to win. It's a feeling of relief.''
 Leavitt didn't run badly, finishing 24 seconds behind in 18:21.
 "I wanted to stick with Kayla,'' Leavitt said. "But she dominated. I'm not disappointed. I'm pleased with my effort. And we have a team title. Winning league is like extra credit.''
 The Spirits grabbed four of the top 10 spots in the Pacific Division, with volleyball player turned cross country standout Shantal Martinez finishing third and Maria Aceves fourth, both dipping under 20 minutes.
 As rewarding as it was for Clayton to win individual honors, the Cowboys fell as a team by three points to perennial power and defending champion San Benito.
 "It's hard,'' said Salinas coach Roger Chagnon, whose boys and girls teams both finished second to the Balers. "We fell by a few points. It wasn't really anything we did wrong.''
 Lavorato, who has been ranked in the State in Division IV, showed no effects from a week long head cold, jumping out to a 15-meter lead at the mile mark.
 The sophomore, who lost at the end of the race in last year's league finals, wanted to spread some distance between himself and the rest of the pack.
 "I went out fast because I don't always finish well,'' Lavorato said. "I wanted to take them out early in the race.''
 The only one within striking distance of Lavorato as he approached the hills was sophomore Thomas Padilla, who went to the state meet last year for Palma in Division IV.
 "I feel I have more strength and endurance,'' Lavorato said. "It pulls me through the hills. What I need to work on his my kick. It's not very good right now.''
  With Lavorato winning in 15:15 and Padilla taking third in 15:34, Palma's depth held up in posting a 10-point win over runner-up Gilroy.
 While North Salinas didn't defend its boys Gabilan title, distance ace Brandon Gutierrez completed a sweep by capturing the Gabilan Division race.
 Gutierrez came into the finals having won all three Gabilan Division Center Meets, but hadn't run at Christmas Hill Park.
 "The pressure was there,'' said Gutierrez, who was timed in 15:27. "My goal was to try and run with Sam (Lavorato). He was just too fast.''
 Bothered by a tender left ankle that he has had for nearly a month, Gutierrez survived the hills and held off Salinas' Alfredo Mejia in the Gabilan finals.
 "The hills were something else,'' Gutierrez said. "But I enjoyed the finish. I think I've got something left in the tank for CCS. I'm just a junior. But my goal is state.''