Ceres High’s boys track and field program had a strong showing at the Sac-Joaquin Section finals/Masters trials on Saturday at Sacramento City College.
The Bulldogs totaled 46.5 points en route to a third-place finish in the Division-IV standings.
The crosstown-rival Central Valley Hawks (8) placed 20th.
Lincoln of Lincoln (70) and Beyer (56) took first and second, respectively.
“We knew that Beyer and Lincoln would be tough to compete with given the format changes,” Ceres High leader Paul Smith stated. “Had we been our best across the board, we had a chance to win the section, but that wasn’t the case. We are still very impressed with our efforts this season, regardless of outcome. The team worked so hard and remained flexible and resilient given the challenges we faced with injuries and midseason changes to our postseason format and calendar.”
“It was a pleasure to coach them this season,” said Luis Calderon, first-year head coach of the Hawks. “They gave everything they had. They worked hard.”
The top four finishers in each event medaled.
Cashton Almeida, Sergio Torres, Jamesdean Robertson, Julian Barrera, Leo Baez, Estevan Diaz, Anthony Santillan, David Rodriguez-Ochoa, Josiah Martinez and Sam Nieto led Ceres High.
Almeida, a junior, placed second in the 400 with a time of 51.42 seconds.
He ranks second all time in the event in school history.
“He did great for being sick,” Smith said. “It definitely affected his performance. He tried his best.”
Ceres High’s 4x400 relay team of Torres (Sr.), Robertson (So.), Barrera (Jr.) and Almeida set a personal record (3:27.09) while placing second.
They posted the third-fastest time in program history.
“They ran their fastest time of the year,” Smith said.
Ceres High’s 4x100 relay team of Baez (Sr.), Diaz (So.), Almeida and Santillan (Jr.) placed third (43.31).
The Bulldogs’ 4x100 relay team of Diaz, Almeida, Santillan and Adrian Huesca set a school record the previous week at Division-IV trials.
“It was the first time that group (Baez, Diaz, Almeida and Santillan) ran together in that order,” Smith said. “They did as well as they could.”
David Rodriguez-Ochoa (Sr.) placed fourth in the 110 (15.68) hurdles and seventh in the 300 hurdles (43.78).
Rodriguez-Ochoa will be remembered as one of Ceres High’s all-time greatest hurdlers.
He ranks fifth in the 110 hurdles and sixth in the 300 hurdles in program history.
“He had a fantastic career,” Smith said.
Martinez (Sr.) placed fifth in the pole vault (11-6).
“I’m proud of everything he’s accomplished,” Smith said. “He’s really been focused this year.”
Santillan set a personal record (22.74) while placing sixth in the 200.
“He was focused,” Smith said. “He finished strong. He did a great job.”
Torres placed seventh in the 800 (2:02.26).
He ranks third in the 1,600 and sixth in the 800 in program history.
Diaz set a personal record (11.21) while placing eighth in the 100.
Nieto placed seventh in the shot put 41-01/4).
Ernesto Martinez, David Alvarado, Massimo Catalano, Daniel Leon, Blake Silva, Allen Sanchez and Steve Duran represented Central Valley at the Division finals/Masters trials.
Martinez, a senior, brought home a third-place medal.
He posted a time of 52.86 seconds in the 400.
“Ernesto knew what was at stake,” Calderon said. “He earned it. He gave 200 percent. He deserves all the praise.”
Alvarado (Sr.) placed seventh in the discus (125-4).
“We knew how tough the competition was going to be,” Calderon said. “David gave everything he had. He competed. He didn’t let the nerves get to him.”
Catalano (Sr.) placed ninth in the 100 (11.31).
“He was dealing with a shoulder injury,” Calderon said. “He continued to train. He was very determined. Him and Ernesto were two of the pillars of the track and field program.”
Central Valley’s 4x400 relay team of Martinez, Leon (Sr.), Silva (Jr.) and Sanchez (Jr.) did not finish the race due to a failed baton exchange which resulted in a disqualification.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Calderon said. “Those boys trained really hard. They had great practices. The ending doesn’t define their season. They made the program and coaches better. They challenged us.”
Duran (Jr.) was supposed to compete in two events at the Division finals/Masters Trials.
He suffered a right hamstring injury in the 110 hurdles and did not complete the race.
“He was neck-and-neck with (Ceres High’s) David Rodriguez-Ochoa,” Calderon said. “He misjumped one of the hurdles and planted bad. It was scary. I was happy he was able to walk off on his own. It could have been worse.”
Unable to compete at full-strength, Duran withdrew from the 300 hurdles.
“I know Steve will come back stronger and go further next year,” Calderon said.
Ceres High’s 4x800 relay team of Sergio Torres, Jamesdean Robertson, Andrew Alfaro and Julian Barrera will compete at the Masters finals this Saturday in Folsom.
They qualified for Masters after finishing third in the event in a program-record time (8:11.59) at the Division-IV meet on May 9 at Oakmont High School.
