The girls squad runs their route during Wednesday's practice after school to prepare for the first race of the year - the TCAL Jamboree - on Wednesday in Salinas.
After last year's rise-to-the-occasion finish at the Tri-County Athletic League Championships, where the San Benito boys cross country team were crowned champs and Lady 'Baler Courtney Allen earned her first league title, coaches Jess and Josh Morales were declaring it their best meet of the season.
Now, it's simply a matter of picking up where they left off.
Of the 14 harriers that recorded varsity times at last season's TCAL Championships, San Benito returns nine of them this year.
Anchored by Allen, who ran the 3.1-mile Toro Park course in Salinas in 19:01 last season, San Benito returns a state qualifier that will most assuredly lead the Lady 'Balers, and perhaps the entire team, in experience.
Running further into the month of November than any other Haybaler, Allen recorded a 19:34 at the CIF State Cross Country Championships at Fresno's Woodward Park last fall, and was the team's lone representative.
But in terms of section experience, neither team should be lacking, as San Benito qualified both their boys and girls teams to the Central Coast Section Cross Country Championships last season.
"The talent is there. We just have to get in shape and get ready for the season," girls coach Josh Morales said. "I think we're pretty close to where we finished last year. We can only get better."
Leading the way with Allen will be basketball standout Vanessa Farias, as well as up-and-comers Grace Tobias, Dayna Casillas, Jessica Cook, Linnea Shorey and Brandi Callanta. Morales also noted the preseason performance of Rachel Shimabukuro.
Farias (9th, 20:30), Casillas (26th, 21:57) and Callanta (27th, 22:00) all recorded varsity times at the TCAL finale last season, while Shorey (2nd, 21:46), Cook (3rd, 21:53) and Tobias (9th, 22:32) recorded strong times at the junior varsity level.
"It's a better group, in terms of attitude and willingness to run," said Morales, who has approximately 30 girls on his team. "They're more experienced. They know what to expect and they're a lot hungrier this year."
Knowing what to expect will certainly help the boys team as well, which, along with the girls team, will look to stave off Salinas once again.
Led by seniors Adrian Rodriguez and Frankie Rivera, who finished in fifth (16:51) and seventh place (16:58) at last year's TCALs, respectively, the 'Baler boys have a young crop of talent that continues to emerge as underclassmen.
San Benito's top finisher at TCALs last season was then-freshman Eddie Guzman, who took fourth place overall in 16:48.
Guzman will be joined by sophomores Jose Castillo and Luis Ruiz this year (Castillo ran a varsity time of 18:01 at TCALs last year), while Jorge Aguilar, Justin Rendon, Grant Larson, Lee Garcia and Eric Adams will be looking to fill in the remaining varsity spots.
"We're regrouping, but I have a lot of faith in these sophomores," boys coach Jess Morales said. "It looks real good. They have some experience from last year and now it's paying off.
"They don't think much of running varsity anymore. I tell them, 'You've got all to gain and nothing to lose.'"
Injuries are part of the game, however, especially this early in the season. Although the boys team is reporting nothing of significance, Josh Morales said Kristina Vasquez, who delivered a 13th-place finish at last year's TCAL Championships, is suffering shin splints, while teammate Ana Rosa Duarte, who excelled in the 1,600-meter event during the spring track season, is battling an ailing knee.
Both teams, though, will take what they have to Wednesday's TCAL Jamboree at Toro Park to see what works and what doesn't. It's the first race of the year for anyone in league, and it should be a good gauge of things to come.
"Just time-wise, if they're close to their PR or if they're way off," Josh Morales said, "it'll be a measuring stick."
Andrew Matheson Andrew Matheson is a sports writer for South Valley Newspapers. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 334 or at amatheson@svnewspapers.com.
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