Top 8 track review

 Who got the attention of their peers? Who lived up to their hype? And who handled the pressure of what some look at as the final exam prior to the section track and field finals?
 Now granted, not all the elite runners in the Central Coast Section took part in last Saturday's Top 8 Meet at Los Gatos.
 Still, there was enough of a contingent to understand what steps need to be taken in the next five plus weeks to reach the state track and field championships.
 Not that we needed reassurance, but Santa Catalina sophomore Laurel Wong left little doubt who the class of the pole vault is after she won the event by nearly a foot at 12-feet-8.
 The No. 2 ranked vaulter in the state, Wong has a best of 13-2, which has put her in the top 10 in the nation.
 Making a statement that her hamstring is fine was two-time state meet 400 meter qualifier Mikyla Revera, who won the event in a modest 56.00.
 The Santa Catalina senior, who has a track scholarship to Sacramento State, is working her way back after missing nearly five weeks.
 Perhaps even impressive was Revera's time of 24.76 in the 200, where she finished second. While it was not a personal best, it was her seasonal best -- a sign that the hamstring feels good.
 Nothing like a career best mark to send a message, which is what Tyshell Johnson of Alvarez did in the shot, finishing second at 39-3 1/2.
 While the shot put was suppose to be Carlos Mendoza's potential ticket to the state meet for Alisal, it was the discus where he opened some eyes, finishing fourth with a mark of 152-3.
 The top three at the CCS finals will qualify for the state meet, and anyone that earns an automatic state qualifying mark at the section finals.
 Palma sophomore Sam Lavarato put his name in the 3,200 meter conversation after finishing fourth in a career best 9:22.72.
 The same can be said for Jonathan Chagnon, who dipped under 40 seconds in the 300 intermediate hurdles to finish fourth for Salinas in 39.86.
 If King City distance ace Roman Munoz is going to get back to the state meet in the 1,600, he has a few weeks to drop time, as he finished eighth in 4:22.03.
 Last year Munoz, the CCS Division IV cross country champion, ran 4:17.01 at this very same meet.