"He told me it's now or never,'' the Alisal distance runner said. "If we want to win the team title, you have to make a move. I did know it would be the difference''
The senior responded by passing two runners from San Benito and one from Palma in the biggest meet of the season.
And while Chavez's 16th overall finish as the teams No. 5 runner will be unheralded, his move was the difference in the meet Saturday for the Gabilan Division cross country champion Trojans.
Moving up three spots changed the complexion of the league finals as Alisal posted a 50-52 win over defending league champion San Benito at Toro Park.
"The last mile is where championships are won,'' Alisal coach Steve Munoz said. "In this case, the final 400 meters. We made some big moves.''
For a program that opened their season in Hawaii, this has been a magical year for the Trojans, who are league champions for the first time in five years.
"It hasn't sunk in,'' said Peter Maciel, who finished third overall for Alisal. "It probably won't sink in until I get home. We wanted this to be a special year. I believed in my guys.''
The Trojans have gotten better throughout the course of the season, reversing a 15-point Center Meet loss in September with a 17-point win in the final Center Meet two weeks ago.
"Be humble and act like we've been here before,'' were Maciel words of encouragement before the meet. "Don't put any added pressure on yourselves.''
Maciel was within a stride of league champion Sam Lavorato of Palma over the first mile, covering the three mile course in a career best 16:39.
"Since the start of the season, we have been running with a chip on our shoulder,'' Maciel said. "We wanted a championship photo of us in coaches room to come back and see someday.''
While Chavez's move swung the pendulum, Josue Del Real also made a move to edge a San Benito runner at the top, finishing seventh overall to earn all-league honors.
"It's been a crazy season,'' Munoz said. "We've dealt with a lot of personal stuff. These kids have seen the build for four years. It just feels so good.''
Lavorato completed an undefeated Gabilan Division season by running away from the pack on the hills, finishing in 15:59 for his second straight league title.
"We wanted the team title,'' said Lavorato, who won the Pacific title last year as a sophomore for Palma. "That was the team goal. That's what we've worked for all season.''
The Chieftains had beaten Alisal in two previous meets at Toro Park, capturing the first Center Meet and the Salinas City Meet.
"We still have goals we can attain,'' Lavorato said. "We still believe we can get to state as a team at the CCS finals. We've got two weeks to improve.''
Lavorato looked relaxed and confident throughout the race, gradually increasing his lead with each step after taking the lead 600 meters into the race.
"I tried something different today,'' Lavorato said. "I didn't push the start. I didn't think I'd get under 16 minutes. I didn't leave it all out there today. I believe 15:15 is in me.''
No one was within 35 seconds of Lavorato, as teammate Tommy Padilla finished second, followed by Pacific Division champion Isaac Gensel of Monterey.
Gensel wasn't among the leaders in the first mile of the race, but ran past roughly a dozen runners on the hills.
"Going up the hills, I said I can do this,'' Gensel said. "I said it's time to go after these guys. This is something I've worked for. I started picking off people.''
Angela Leavitt knew Layla Ruiz of Watsonville was coming. The Notre Dame sophomore just didn't know when.
"Knowing the Pacific and Gabilan Division races would be together, I looked up their times an saw that she had 18:57,'' Leavitt said. "I hadn't run that fast.''
Neither had Ruiz at Toro Park. Still the freshman pushed Leavitt to her limits before a late sprint gave the Notre Dame distance standout her second straight league title in 19:19.
"What was going through my mind is I remember last year winning the Pacific title, but finishing second to the Gabilan champion,'' Leavitt said. "I didn't want that to happen again.''
Leavitt and San Benito's Elli Kliewer were stride-for-stride for a mile before the hills separated the pair.
Yet, when Levitt came down, Ruiz was on her heels, even passing her briefly with a half mile left in the race.
"I just tried to stay in a zone,'' Ruiz said. "I got stuck in the back at the start. I had to make my way back up over the first mile. Mentally I'm strong on the hills.''
Physically the effort it took to get back in the race caught up to Ruiz over the final 800 meters when she couldn't separate herself from Leavitt.
"She caught me twice,'' Leavitt said. "I'd say she had a five-yard lead. I said to myself you have to go now. I guess I just had a little more speed than her.''
Leavitt blistered the final 150 meters like a sprinter, outkicking Ruiz by four seconds to complete an undefeated regular season.
"I tried to push the last 100 meters,'' Ruiz said. "I just didn't have a lot left in my legs. I won't make the same mistake at the start at CCS.''
San Benito defended its girls team title in the Gabilan Division with a 54-84 win over runner-up North County.
Behind Itsel Oseguera's fourth place finish, much-improved Monterey took second in the Pacific finals behind Gilroy 31-59.
The Central Coast Section championships will be held on Nov. 11 at Toro Park.
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