5/02/2017

Gabilan Division track

 Trial meets in track and field are about survival. One false start, a clip of a hurdle or a foul on a jump could alter an entire teams bid for a title.
 "A championship could be determined by who gets in and who does not in the trials,'' Palma coach Jason Smith.
 The Chieftains quest for a sixth straight Gabilan Division title begins Tuesday with the Gabilan track trials at North Salinas.
 "Looking at where we are at, we have more upside as far as potential points,'' Smith said.
 Based on marks submitted for the trials, the Chieftains are on the bubble for qualifiers to the finals in the long jump, triple jump and 110 high hurdles.
 "I pulled out a ruler the other day to remind kids this is the difference in some field events between finishing second or 10th,'' Smith said.
 Drew Dalman will be the favorite in the discus for Palma while Isaiah Blanco has the top mark in the 400, being chased by teammate Kevin Telford.
 For the third time in six years, Palma was beaten in a dual meet by San Benito, who is a slight three-point favorite based strictly on the marks submitted.
 With UCLA bound distance ace Marisa Villegas' season in question because of a stress fracture, San Benito's bid for a fourth straight league girls team title is in question.
 Salinas has recognized that, adding another individual event to some of its elite athletes going into Tuesday's trails. The finals are slated for Friday at Gilroy.
  Reigning Gabilan Division 400 meter champion Brooke Oleson will also run the 100 and 200 for the Cowboys while Kayla Clayton will triple and run the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.
 Assuming there are no mishaps at the trials, the pair could supply Salinas with 60 points as they are the favorites in each event.
 The Cowboys will have to find a way to match San Benito's strength in the jumping events. Three inches separate the first three competitors in the girls long jump



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