The boys’ track team has been training hard all year for the SCVAL finals, which were on Friday, May 15. Athletes qualified for CCS trials in five events—a big achievement.

“Everyone did well at the league meet and CCS qualifier,” said senior Alan Menezes. “We’re all improving at the right times.”

Senior Kian Banks is the league champion in the 800m with an impressive time of 1:57.16. The 4x400m relay, consisting of Banks, Menezes, junior Trevor Teerlink and sophomore Matt Cresci, also qualified with a second place finish.

However, the senior prom is on the same day as the CCS meet and the relay race is in the late afternoon, so Menezes and Banks have chosen to go to prom instead of the relay race. The relay team has to replace the two with juniors or sophomores who are less experienced. They are thinking freshman Troy Doles and junior Matt Marshall are possible replacements.

“I’m kind of disappointed because I think we had a chance at going to [the] State [meet],” said Cresci. “I don’t think we can qualify without them.”

Despite not being able to race in the relay, Menezes and Banks both qualified in individual events and expect to do well in the CCS meet.

Other individual qualifiers are Teerlink for the 400m, Menezes for the 1600m and junior Connor Clarke for shot put. Clarke placed third in SCVAL, throwing the 12-pound shot put 47’3.5’’.

“I threw about a foot and a half farther than I did the week before so I’m improving a lot,” said Clarke. “My goal is to throw 50 feet sometime soon.”

The CCS meet is on May 23, in Gilroy.

“I’m psyched out to be going,” said Clarke. “I’ve never gone to CCS for anything so I’m really excited.”