News and Announcements
Distance runners - 06 Goals and Results - UPDATED
Updated thru EBAL finals. Missing splits from Phillips McCain (Coach Davis has these to add) and the JV 3200's from EBAL (Coach Davis is getting these).
Great job to everyone - what a fantastic conclusion to the season!
2006 Season - Distance "Runner of the Week"

Congratulations to the following recipients:
Week #1 - Renee Lau - Soph
Renee broke the 6 minute barrier, becoming only the third lady stang on the team to do so. Her 5:55 clocking against Amador was good for a 3rd place finish. She followed that up by winning the varsity girls 3200 in a PR time, which she promptly broke again by nearly thirty seconds in placing 5th in her heat at Piedmont (13:03). She already bettered those times the next week. A great start to her season!
EBAL Update - Renee took 2nd Place at League in both the F/S 1600 and 3200, running a solid 4:53 1600 and engaging in a photo finish PR in the 3200!
Week #2 - Bhavik Kanzaria - Soph
Bhavik has become one of the boys top distance runners in just his first season of track and field! In earning this honor, Bhavik placed 3rd in the 1600 meters, just missing 2nd place, in an outstanding time of 4:48.9 (PR!). He followed that up by winning the 3200 in an excellent example of pacing and patience, letting the Foothill runners set the early pace, then passing and moving ahead in the last 2 laps. His time of 10:24 is outstanding for a soph - and is bettered only by his Piedmont effort of 10:19. What an impact he's making!
EBAL Update - Bhavik took 4th place in the Varsity 3200 at league, running a PR time of 10:01.92 to qualify for the NCS Tri Valley Meet! Bhavik ended the season with 26 varsity points.
Week #3 - Claire Hoppens - Junior
Claire is well on her way to having an outstanding season. She has scored varsity points in each EBAL race she has run this year, totaling 19 points to date. This past week against Livermore, Claire earned 9 points by taking second place in the 1600, 800 and 3200 - battling Livermore's freshman sensation Diane George (NCS XC Champ) to the wire in the 1600 and 800. Sensing the opportunity, she ran the first 3200 of her career, running a very respectable 12:31 time to break up Livermore's scoring. Well done Claire!
EBAL Update: Claire finished 5th in the 1600 at league, running a season's best 5:22.7 in the 1600 finals to advance to the NCS Tri Valley Meet. Claire ended up with 42.25 varsity points!
Week #4/5 - Chris Simpson - Senior
There is no disputing the incredible value Chris brings to the MV Track Team. As the top varsity distance runner, Chris has scored numerous points for the Stangs during his career. However, the past week at Granada proved special. Wanting to rest in order to be 'peaked' for the huge Arcadia Invitational two days later, Chris decided to enter his normal events with a goal of getting points while running easy. Unfortunately, Granada had other plans, and sent their fastest runners out to set the pace. Chris ran a tough 4:33 1600 to take first, and then was forced into a winning 2:03 800 a short while later. He topped that off with a 51 leg on the 4X400! Although tired, two days later Chris took 2nd in his heat at Arcadia, earning a medal for his 4:28 effort. Simply an outstanding week!
EBAL Update - Chris finished with 3 1sts at league, in the 1600 (season's best 4:23) the 800 (1:56.4 just .3 from the EBAL record) and ran the 2nd leg of the winning 4X400 relay. Chris is moving on to the NCS in all events, and is looking for a return visit to the State Meet. He is ranked in the 800, 1600 and 3200. Chris led ALL varsity point scorers with 88 points this year! Wow!
Week #6 - Marilyn Kushnick - Soph
While this award is called the Distance Runner of the Week, our recipient has really earned it by her actions every day. Marilyn never misses practice, and runs each and every workout to it's completion. She has run through a muscle strain without complaint. She supports her teammates and never questions the races that she is assigned to. She attended all the practices over Spring Break, and even makes any Saturday workouts. Others on the team may be faster, but nobody is more dedicated. On Saturday at the Phillips McCain meet, Marilyn was assigned to the first race - by herself - while most of the team was still finding a seat. She warmed up, checked in, and raced without complaint. It is this dedication that leads to her nomination for this award. Keep up the great work!
EBAL Update - Marilyn ran a huge PR of 7:01.7 in the F/S 1600 Trials.
Week #7 - Connor Donley - Freshman
Coming off a fine Cross Country season, Connor has made his presence felt among the JV (Frosh-Soph) runners in league. He has shown excellent range - running the 400 (sub 60) to the 3200 (10:58!). He has come in first in several EBAL meets, and is always "in the mix". Connor's time in the 1600 has steadily declined, as he focused hard on improvement in his racing. Last week, Connor broke through the tough 5 minute barrier, running 4:59 for the 1600. He joins only four other runners who have done so this year. For this great achievement, and his solid season - Connor is the Runner of the Week!
EBAL Update - Conner qualified for the 1600 F/S finals at league by running a PR time of 4:57. He followed that up with his best race of the season, finishing a close 3rd in the finals and running a huge PR of 4:49! Now that's peaking when it counts!
Week #8 - Christine Barake - Freshman
This weeks winner started the season with the pole vaulters, joining the distance team after the first few weeks. After a couple "missed" races, Christine has really poured it on, in both training and during the meets. Last week against Cal HS, Christine won the 800 meters by a large margin - after running the 1600. The week before, she blasted to first in the 800 in an outstanding time of 2:39! Going into the EBAL meet, Christine has emerged as one of the teams best F/S 800 runners, and earns a well deserved "distance runner of the week" award!
EBAL Update - Christine qualfied for the finals in both the F/S 1600 and 800 by running PR's in both (6:19.9 and 2:36.2). Dropping the 1600, she finished 4th over all in the F/S finals in the 800!
EBAL Week - May 11th to 13th: Daniela Gergley - Senior
Daniela's fine season continues to roll along, and at the recent EBAL meet, she accounted for 18 individual points, helping the Lady Stangs to their first team title since 1991. Already ranked in State in the 3200, Daniela ran a huge PR time of 5:10 in the 1600 to place a close second in the EBAL finals (8 points). Then only 2 hours later, in the mid-day heat, she destroyed the field in the 3200 final - running an outstanding time of 11:11 to take first place (10 points) by more than 300 meters over the second place runner. Daniela has poured her heart into the distance program at Monte Vista, and will be continuing her great career at USC next fall. Congrats Daniela!!
EBAL Update - (the above is for EBAL...)
Tri Valley Area Local Track Leaders - Updated thru 5/11/06
NCS Tri Valley Champtionships - Granada HS Sat May 20th
EBAL wrap-up from the Tri-Valley Herald.
Article Last Updated: 5/14/2006 02:55 AM |
Klech puts on dazzling show |
Cal star wins four events, sets two records at EBAL finals |
By Dennis Miller,, STAFF WRITER Inside Bay Area |
DANVILLE — What may become known as the "David Klech Victory Tour" by the time the first weekend in June rolls around began Saturday afternoon in the East Bay Athletic League Track and Field Championships at Monte Vista High.
It started the way many figure it will finish, with a series of sensational performances from the talented California track and field senior, who has put the Tri-Valley on the national track and field map. The top six finishers in each event Saturday qualified for the North Coast Section Tri-Valley Meet next Saturday at Granada High. Monte Vista took the girls team title, and San Ramon Valley won the boys crown. Klech won four events and set two league records in the final EBAL meet of his illustrious career. "This was such an exciting meet but also so sad because it's the last," said Klech, who will move on to UCLA next year. "It's been so great to compete in the EBAL for four years." Klech dazzled fans, coaches and athletes one more time while setting league records in the 110 hurdles (13.99) and the 400 meters (47.64). Klech has run the 400 fewer than 20 times in high school, but due to a bad ankle, he opted out of the high jump and into the quarter. "I have a pinched joint in my ankle, and we decided not to risk it," Klech said of skipping the high jump. "Of all the other events, the 400 complemented the 300 hurdles the most. But don't think it's one of my favorite races — it's one of the most grueling." Klech is the defending state champ in the 300 hurdles, and his time of 35.45 in Arcadia this season is the top time in the nation. Saturday he won the 300 hurdles in 36.78, almost four seconds better than second place. Finally, Klech won the long jump with a leap of 22-103/4. After his 400 race, Klech was honored by the EBAL coaches in a ceremony where he was presented with a hurdle board from each school in the league. "It's been such an honor to run in this league and for Cal High," said Klech. "I couldn't have asked for a better coaching staff or better teammates. Everyone in the league — all the coaches and athletes — have been so wonderful." A couple of the other great performances came from Brandon Adams in the high jump and the San Ramon Valley girls 4x100 relay team. Adams, also of San Ramon Valley, set a league record in the high jump at 6-111/4. Last year, Adams came out of nowhere to go 6-10 at the EBAL meet and eventually advance to the state meet. After seeing it all last year, the senior feels he's more ready for the postseason this time. "I was more shocked last year, and it all came at me so fast," Adams said of the postseason. "This year I know what I need to do. I feel a lot better now than I did last year. This year, I know I can do it when I get to state." Adams had a best of 6-8 this year before easily clearing 6-11 Saturday, then barely missing at 7-feet three times. "At 7-feet, I felt good," Adams said. "I know what I need to do. I need to practice a little more on some things. I know I can clear it." The San Ramon girls relay team broke a league record set by Berkeley during the Jackets' short stint in the EBAL. It was a mark many felt would be safe for a while, but the San Ramon quartet of Bailey Weaver, Tia Wilborn, Abbey Golliher and Kelly Fogarty clocked a 48.60, beating Berkeley's time of 48.81, set in 2000. "We were so surprised," said Fogarty, who also won the 100 and 200. "We were in the 49s last year, but this is the fastest we've ever been and we're pretty excited." Other multiple winners Saturday came from Monte Vista, as Chris Simpson (800 and 1,600) and Chris Krychev (shot put and discus) stood out for the Mustangs. |