SOUTH COUNTY — A trio of track and field athletes from Soledad, King City and Gonzales will represent their high schools and South County at Friday’s Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships at Gilroy High School.
Noora Hautamaki, a foreign exchange student from Finland representing Soledad High, has qualified in three events; Dylan Oliveros of King City qualified as a triple jumper; and Pablo Villasenor of Gonzales qualified to the finals in the shot put.
Last Saturday in the CCS semi-finals meet Hautamaki started her day by placing third in the girls long jump with a best of 17-11 1/2, jumped a best of 37-11 1/2 to placed third in the triple jump, and placed eighth in the shot put with a personal best of 36-8 to qualify in that event.
“We are going to have to decide what events will give Noora the best chance to get to State,” said Soledad head coach Jeremy Hoeflinger. “It will be a little tricky to get from one event to another but we’ll do what is best for her.”
Oliveros earned a spot in the triple jump finals with a best of 42-2 to finish in 12th place and earn the qualifying spot. Oliveros also competed in the long jump and finished 25th with a best of 19-6.
“Dylan had a season best of 39-9 and was able to improve by almost three feet,” said King City jumps coach Evan Petrovic. “His personal best before Saturday was 41-9 and as he is a junior a goal that he can attain if he improves at the finals is to move up on the school record board.”
Villasenor placed fifth in the shot put with a best of 50-5, just three inches behind the third place finisher.
Villasenor threw the discus but did not qualify for the finals as he placed 21st with a best of 124-2.
“It’s exciting to see all the hard work Pablo has invested throughout the season payoff,” said Gonzales head coach Margie Daniels. “He has all the ability to keep advancing. Right now it is about mental preparation and some fine tuning. We are all excited for what is to come.”
The top three placers at the CCS finals will qualify for the 100th Annual California Interscholastic Federation State Meet that will take place on June 1st and 2nd at Buchanan High School’s Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis.
Other South County athletes that competed at the CCS semi-finals were: Ulises Camarena (Soledad), 23rd place 300 hurdles 43.3; Jesus Rodriguez (Soledad), 15th place 400 meters 51.7; Danyelle Landeros (Soledad), 21st place 400 meters 1:02; Belen Flores (Soledad), 28th place 300 hurdles 50.9; Jhames Bautista (King City), 29th place 110 hurdles 17.2; Dominic Conridode (King City), 31st place 110 hurdles 17.7; Cesar Chavez (King City), 27th place triple jump 39-9 ½; Ashton Headley (King City) 23rd place shot put 43-3; Kyras Headley (King City), 110-3; Ricardo Diaz (King City), 19th place 9:55; Cassidy Flores (King City), 29th place discus 86-4; Gonzales 4 x 100 relay team, 26th place 45.5 (George Manriquez, Damian Acosta, Dominic Emery, Hernan Mojica); Eric Correa (Gonzales), NH; Luis Meza (Greenfield), 32nd place 3200 meters 10:19.
