Kraemer, La run to wins at SCVAL qualifying meet

Westmont's Mamola a double qualifer

By Dick Sparrer

The field was tougher last week than it was the week before. And it figures to be tougher this week than it was last week.

But that's just the name of the game for track and field athletes as they work their way to the Central Coast Section (CCS) championships set for May 24 at San José City College.

Track and field athletes have been battling through league qualifiers, hoping to stay in contention for the CCS finals. And those athletes who have qualified in league competition will face one more test this weekend--the CCS trials on May 18 at the San José City College oval.

Athletes in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) and Blossom Valley Athletic League (BVAL) fought their way through qualifiers last week, and only the cream of the crop remains as competitors gear up for CCS action.

The SCVAL athletes competed in De Anza Division and El Camino Division finals, with the top finishers advancing to the SCVAL championship meet last Saturday at Los Gatos.

Saratoga and Lynbrook both came out of the Saturday meet with a solid crop of qualifiers who will now compete at the CCS trials.

Individual champs Will Kraemer and David La of Saratoga and Kim Gleeson of Lynbrook top the list of local placers.

Kraemer won the boys 1,600 meters in 4:29.0, and La took the 800 meters in 1:57.29, with his teammate--and brother--Richard La close behind in 1:57.59.

Saratoga high jumpers Kevin Bromage and Mark Elfving also earned CCS spots. Bromage was third in the high jump at 6-2, and Elfving was fourth at 6-2.

The Falcons ran third in the 4x400 relay in 3:31.52, Tom Cummins finished fifth in the discus at 123-5 and Justin Zebb was fifth in the triple jump at 41-5.

Freshman Alicia Follmar topped the list of Saratoga girls who placed at the Saturday qualifier. Follmar was second in the 3,200 meters in 11:28.07.

Eevi Aura ran fourth in the 200 meters in 26.90, and she was sixth in the 100-meter dash in 13.06. Amanda VanHoesen added a sixth in the shot put at 33-0.

The Falcons were also fourth in the 4x400 relay in 4:10.36 and fifth in the 4x100 relay in 50.89.

Gleeson heads up a large contingent of Lynbrook qualifiers. The talented Viking heaved the shot put 39-0 for a victory and added a first in the discus with a 139-7 toss.

Julie Chen was second in the 100 high hurdles in 15.80, Sheridon McPherson was third in the triple jump at 35-6, Jessica Buffum was fifth in the high jump at 5-0 and the Vikings were fourth in the 4x100 relay in 50.85.

In boys competition, Chris Deal soared to a third in the long jump at 20-6.75, and Durrell Roberts was fifth in the 200 in 23.33. The two helped the Vikings to a third in the 4x100 relay in 44.84 and a fifth in the 4x400 relay in 3:32.86.

The athletes in the BVAL opened the week with division finals and wrapped things up with a BVAL championship meet to qualify competitors for the CCS trials.

Westmont's Ashley Mamola qualified for the section meet in two events, and she topped the list of local finishers in the BVAL meet.

Mamola raced to a second in the 100 hurdles in 15.27, and she was also second in the 300 hurdles.

Westmont boys placed high in the weight events to earn CCS spots. Robert Jennings was second in the discus at 161-7.5, with teammate Gareth Gorman getting fourth at 148-2. Chris Aimonetti of Westmont was third in the shot put at 47-2.5.

Prospect's Ferman Smith earned a CCS berth, thanks to a second-place finish in the high jump at 6-0. Austin Day was third in the 400 in 51.48, with teammate Ray Woodie fourth in 52.36.

The Prospect girls finished fourth in the 4x400 relay in 4:17.24 to win a CCS trip.

Earlier in the week, at the Santa Teresa finals at Independence High School, Gorman and Aimonetti each finished first and Kevin Willis and Aremon Habibi added seconds to lead the Westmont boys to a third-place finish in the team standings.

Gorman was first in the shot at 46-4.5, with Habibi second at 45-0. Aimonetti won the discus with a heave of 159-0, with Gorman third at 144-0, and Willis ran to a second in the 1,600 meters in 4:42.

Mamola was a double winner for the Warriors. She took the 100 hurdles in 16.10 and was tops in the 300 hurdles in 48.23.

Austin Day starred in the meet for Prospect, winning the 400 in 51.50 and helping the Panthers to a first in the 4x400 relay in 3:30.45. Woodie was second in the 400 in 53.10 and was also on the relay team.

Smith was another winner for Prospect, finishing first in the high jump at 6-2.

In girls action, Edina Hamulic was second in the 300 low hurdles in 50.90 and third in the 100 highs in 17.38, and Danielle Zelinski was second in the 800 meters in 2:26.

Lacey Johnson was third in the 1,600 in 5:35.99 for the Panthers, with Christie O'Hara third in the 300 hurdles in 52.24 and Rebecca Palm third in the 3,200 meters in 12:49.

The Panthers were also third in the 4x400 relay in 4:20.60.