On the shoulders of young talent, expectation can, at times, seem its heaviest.
Live Oak coach Dean Raymond might have considered this last week when he sent 21 athletes off to compete in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Finals at Mount Pleasant High School. Raymond's only expectation was for them to do their best. That's part of the reason two-thirds of them are still in season.
Following a skillful showing at BVALs, Live Oak is dressing 14 athletes - eight girls, six boys - for Saturday's CIF-Central Coast Section Semifinals meet in Gilroy High School's Garcia-Elder Sports Complex. The contingent includes five CIF-CCS veterans, plus four multi-event qualifiers and two freshmen.
Raymond's outlook hasn't changed for his Acorns, who'll compete with athletes from 131 schools for passage into next weekend's section finals meet, also in Gilroy.
"Expectations - you can't have any at this point in the season," Raymond said Tuesday, during a desert-wind swept practice at Richert Field. "There's 32 spots for each event, and only the top eight advance to the finals. Just do the math. Going for a (personal record) is all you can ask for because that's the best you can do.
"Expectations sometimes can be a negative. You can't be under pressure. I tell the kids to enjoy the experience, especially the younger ones. They'll do their best this time and come back next year with goals of doing better."
If that's the case, the bar will be set pretty high for Live Oak's girls team in 2009. The Lady Acorns qualified for sectionals in nine events at BVALs, including both relays. The 4x400-meter foursome, led by three-event qualifiers Pauline Olsen and Erika Rodriguez, highlighted Live Oak's day by winning its heat in four minutes, 9.23 seconds - the third best time in the meet.
"It's special to have so many going," said Raymond, whose girls team finished second in the Santa Teresa Division this year. "It's more than we had last year, so there's definitely improvement."
The truth is in Olsen, who surprised even herself at Mount Pleasant. With a personal-best time of 59.93, the sophomore collected her second sectional invite in the 400-meter dash and added a qualifying time in the 800 meters.
"I was hoping to make it in the 400 again, but the 800 - I didn't expect that at all," she said. "I'm feeling good right now, so I should be able to do all three."
Olsen's goal is to PR in the 400 and 800 meters, but her work load may infringe.
"It's going to be tough to recover in time," she said. "You just have to push yourself through it."
Added Raymond: "Being so talented and gifted, it's a double-edged sword. Fortunately, it's spread out. Pauline will get her time to rest."
Rodriguez also will compete in three events Saturday, running in both relays and the 200-meter dash. The CIF-CCS veteran led the 4x100-meter relay to a school-record time of 51.41 at BVALs, and took sixth place in the 200 meters (27.17).
In the 4x400 relay, Rodriguez and Olsen will hand off with freshmen Amanda Morgan and Lauren Drewniany, who will sub in for Katie Armstrong and Courtney Robinson.
"This is a chance for them to get their first taste of CCS," Raymond said.
Robinson will be rejoin Rodriguez, Drewniany and Catherine Sparling for the 4x100 relay.
Armstrong will save effort for the 300-meter hurdles - plus a bout with sister, Stephanie Armstrong, in the high jump. Both Armstrongs cleared five feet even at BVALs, finishing in the top five.
"They both did very well," Raymond said.
Live Oak junior Kaleigh Mallette will launch in pole vault after making 8-00 last weekend.
The Lady Acorns' long-distance slate rests with Olivia Duran, who'll run the 3,200 meters. The junior is making her first trip to CIF-CCS after taking sixth in BVALs at 12:04.47.
"It was really competitive," she said. "There were a lot of fast runners - it was a great test. There's going to be a lot tougher competition at CCS."
- - -
Raymond had Nic Muhn in mind when he mentioned "goals of doing better."
Heading into his first CIF-CCS Semifinals last year running the 300 hurdles, Muhn didn't know what to expect.
"I was pretty satisfied just to be there," he said. "I didn't do so well. That's all I remember."
Muhn's performance, although disappointing, left him with loftier hopes for 2008 - his senior year.
"I'm trying to qualify for finals," he said. "I've got a decent chance to do it.
"Last year was a learning experience. I know what kind of competition to expect."
Muhn clocked the fifth fastest time (41.26) in BVALs and is ranked ninth in the section.
"He'd be right on the edge of making finals," Raymond said, referring to the eight qualifying spots. Muhn is the Acorn boys' lone CIF-CCS veteran and also will run the opening leg of the 4x100 relay with speedsters Mark Cedeno, Billy Van Aken and James Hamblin. The foursome placed sixth at Mount Pleasant, finishing in 44.96.
Live Oak's top pole vaulter Eric Tolson also qualified for sectionals last week, launching to sixth place at 11-06 - two feet off the top mark. Tolson will face some of the toughest competitors in the state, including the nation's top high school pole vaulter, Raymond said.
Tolson was the Acorn boy's lone CIF-CCS qualifier in field events.
"We were hoping to get some throwers and jumpers in, but it's still a good group," Raymond added. "I was predicting a dirty dozen, and we qualified 14. I was happy to be wrong."
Saturday's action begins at 11 a.m.
Scott Adams Scott Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
Although the Morgan Hill Times does not have any obligation to monitor this board, the Morgan Hill Times reserves the right at all times to check this board and to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to the Morgan Hill Times in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. The Morgan Hill Times also reserves the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions. All threats to systems or site infrastructure shall be assumed genuine in nature and will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Submission of any comments will be considered permission to use online or in print.
The road to nationals
Former Rams return for Garcia reunion
