They were three days from their biggest meet of the season and practicing in torrid, 90-plus degree weather complete with cramping dry wind and no shade in sight - save for the goal posts at Sobrato Football Field.
The Bulldogs' track and field finest still looked cool Wednesday, even professional, regardless. That's probably because many of Sobrato's 14 athletes heading to the CIF-Central Coast Section Semifinals this weekend have been there before.
The benefits of experience can't be denied. It was written in the stoic stance of Lance Wolfsmith and confident smiles of Ariel Mosbrucker and Abhilasha Devaraj. For them, the novelty of sectionals has worn off - replaced by anticipation.
"It's fun going their your first time," Wolfsmith said. "You're fearless going in. You don't know what to expect, what you're up against. You just want to do your best.
"The next time you go, it's different. You know the amount of good athletes is higher, and you're tactics have to be smarter. Your best has to be better."
Sobrato's CIF-CCS bound tracksters lived up to the challenge in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Finals. Wolfsmith led the charge, clocking the section's sixth fastest time of four minutes, 18.34 seconds while taking second in the 1,600-meter run. He also placed third in the 3,200 meters, finishing in 9:49.25. Wolfsmith will run those events Saturday in Gilroy High School's Elder-Garcia Sports Complex but plans to drop one for next week's CIF-CCS Finals should he qualify in both.
Wolfsmith, a junior, is making his third semifinals appearance and is ranked in the top eight in the section for the mile and two mile.
"He's expecting to go in both," said his father and coach, Dave Wolfsmith. "It's hard for him because he's expecting so much. He lives for the competition."
Lance's bid for a finals return comes against stiff opposition, including the BVAL record holder in the 1,600 and the reigning CIF-CCS cross country champion. Most of the top distance runners are saving themselves for the 3,200 meters, Wolfsmith's specialty.
"That's my kind of race - it's a guts race," he said.
Alan Rios has shown similar excitement for this week following an equally impressive showing at BVALs. Rios took third place in the 800 meters at 1:58.42 - the state's fifth fastest time among sophomores this year, according to EPI Sports.
Like Wolfsmith in the 1,600 meters, Rios earned a top seed in his heat for sectionals. For both runners, a first-place finish secures one of eight qualifying spots for CIF-CCS Finals.
"The pressure's on," said Rios, who narrowly missed finals last season. "I was lucky enough to get that assignment. All I have to do is win Saturday to go to finals, but the guys behind me aren't going to make that easy."
Alex Meldrum rounds out the Bulldogs' individual qualifiers. Meldrum, a junior, will run the 300-meter hurdles after placing sixth in the event at BVALs. He'll also run a leg of the 4x400-meter relay, joining Rios, Ralph Jackson and, either, Adam Guerra or Joe Anaya. The relay took sixth at BVALs, clocking a season-best time of 3:32.46.
"We're hoping to PR and finish strong," Rios said.
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Kirsti Whitmyre's ascent as a long-distance runner is difficult to explain, even for her.
Whitmyre didn't expect to reach the CIF-CCS Semifinals following an injury-riddled junior season - her first with the program. That was the reality for her last week, though, heading into her brilliant showing in BVALs. It was there that a much healthier Whitmyre shattered her previous record in the 1,600 meters by more than five seconds, clocking 5:15.91 - good for third place.
Outlook has suddenly changed for Whitmyre, who's hoping another PR is in the near future.
"I wasn't expecting this kind of success at all after last year," she said. "I had shin splints for most of the season, so I didn't think much was going to happen this year. I feel a lot healthier. It's great to be going to CCS."
Whitmyre is especially excited to run against Leland's Stephanie Barnett, whom Whitmyre chased to a school-record time in the 800 meters during a March 19 dual meet.
"I'm going to try and keep up with her again if I can," Whitmyre said.
Opponents are probably saying the same about Mosbrucker. The junior is making her third CIF-CCS appearance and second as a qualifier in all three jumping events. Mosbrucker's specialty is the triple jump, which she placed eighth in at BVALs with a top length of 33 feet, 6 1/2 inches. Mosbrucker also leapt 15-9 1/2 in the long jump and cleared five feet even in the high jump - good for fourth place.
Devaraj also is making a return trip to sectionals, where she placed 34th in 2007 as a junior. Devaraj hopes the experience lifts her position Saturday.
"I didn't do too well last year because it was one of my first races," she said. "I'm faster now, more mature and more experienced."
The Lady Bulldogs' lone multi-event trackster is CIF-CCS newcomer Marissa Benjamin. The freshman will run the 200-meter dash and part of the 4x400-meter relay, joining Lanesha Alexander, Cassandra Valenzuela and Vicky Perry. Sobrato's Amanda Paul will launch in pole vault Saturday, coming off a fourth-place finish in BVALs at 8-00.
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.
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Legend of the fall
