Just a handful of returning Central Coast Section champions competed at last weekend's K-Bell Classic at Los Gatos High, the unofficial kickoff to the track and field season.
Those who did established themselves as front-runners for CCS titles by setting the section's fastest times.
Topping the list were two distance runners, Saratoga's Alicia Follmar and Presentation's Melissa Grelli, who each set section-best marks in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters, respectively. Follmer finished in 10:58.18, while Grelli had a time of 5:03.74.
The two bumped heads during the cross-country season last fall, when Follmar won the CCS Division III title and Grelli won the state Division III crown. In track and field last year, Follmar won a section and state title in the 1,600; Grelli placed second in the 3,200 at the CCS meet.
``As a coach, my job is to keep her mind off what other people are doing,'' Presentation Coach Chris Cozort said. ``She runs into that eventually. As far as distance running, you have control over one person. What other people are doing is not going to change what she does in training.''
It's unlikely that either athlete will try to run both the 1,600 and 3,200 at the CCS championships. But right now, neither has officially decided which event will be her focus.
Follmar and Grelli are mixing up their training, using these early meets to work on different aspects of their race. Grelli ran the 1,600 at K-Bell to work on speed.
``The event is a good opportunity to go out and get a first feel for where people are and where you're at,'' Cozort said.
Other athletes who also set section-best times at the K-Bell:
• Carlmont sprinter Nicole Theus pulled off a double, winning the 100 and 200 with times of 12.15 and 24.87, respectively. Her time in the 200 was the best this season in the CCS.
• Taimur Khan of Lynbrook won the 400 in 49.55, well ahead of second-place finisher David Klech of California (50.49). Khan's time would have placed him third at last year's section finals.
``To run a time like that this early in the season is amazing,'' said Lynbrook Coach Darrin Garcia.
Khan also ran the third leg of Lynbrook's 400 relay team that placed second in 43.48, just behind Archbishop Riordan's 43.47.