(Right) Heather Hennessy.

Hennessy runs the race of her life

By Dick Sparrer

Heather Hennessy has spent her high school career chasing a legend around the track at Los Gatos High School. Ever since she was a freshman, Hennessy has hoped to match the success of Los Gatos 800-meter star Stephanie Chavez, who was the Central Coast Section champion in the 800 meters and set the school record of 2:10.49 in her senior year in 1997.

"Stephanie Chavez was Heather's idol," said Gatos track coach Willie Harmatz.

Well, Hennessy is no longer chasing the legend--she is the legend.

The talented junior half-miler raced to a lifetime best 2:10.29 in the 800 meters at the Arcadia Invitational in Southern California. The time was good for a second-place finish in the rugged meet, and it ranks as the second-best time this season in the state and the nation.

What's more, it breaks the school record set by Chavez back in 1997.

"She was determined to stay with the front pack," said coach Harmatz, "then ran the race of her life."

"I told her that the backstretch on the second lap was the most critical moment and to react and go with the best," he added. "Heather did just that."

Hennessy's time is easily the best in the CCS this spring. Her mark is nearly seven seconds better than that of her nearest rival.

Hennessy, who finished third in the 800 at the CCS finals a year ago, was one of two Los Gatos placers at Arcadia.

Senior weight star Annie Farnady also finished among the placers with a sixth in the discus with a toss of 126-0.

Aly Chavez ran 58.64 in the 400 to rank No. 6 on the girls all-time list at Los Gatos, and Simone Drucker was close behind in 59.4. Brian Edwards covered the 400 in 50.0 in the boys race.

Edwards came back a week later to finish second in the 400 meters at the Mt. Sac Relays. The junior speedster ran a personal best 49.47 to finish second in the meet. The time is good for third on the Los Gatos all-time list.

In other boys action, Matt Bates was third in the 800 in 1:56.0, good for eighth on the Gatos all-time list. Bates is currently the CCS leader in the 800.

Russ Martin finished fifth in the 3,000 meters in 8:47.63, Jeff Hoeft ran a season best 1:58.9 in the 800, and Seung Lee ran 14.9 in the high hurdles.

Sophomore sensation Michelle Beritz-hoff also starred for Los Gatos at Mt. Sac, finish fifth in a tough field in the girls 1,500 meters. Her time of 4:45.85 is a new school record.

Chavez was sixth in the 400 in 58.85, and she ran 25.6 in the 200 to rank ninth on the Los Gatos all-time list.

In dual match action last week, the Los Gatos boys edged Palo Alto 67-60, and the girls destroyed the Vikings 85-40.

Hoeft won two events to lead the Gatos boys (5-0) to the win over Paly. Hoeft took the 400 in 54.1 and the 800 in 2:14.6.

Lee sprinted to a first in the 100 in 11.2, with Brian Starr third in 11.6, and Lee was also second in the high hurdles in 15.5 and the intermediate hurdles in 44.4.

Martin led a Gatos sweep in the mile, finishing first in 4:50.2, with Tomas Viramontes second in 4:54.8 and Darren Key third in 5:04.4.

The Cats also swept the 2-mile with Greg Tolan first in 10:51.2, Hoeft second in 11:11.0 and Billy Stanton third in 11:15.8.

Stone Hsu soared to a first in the long jump at 19-2, with Ben Frasier third at 18-2, and Hsu was also second in the triple jump at 39-4.

Matt Hintz was first in the 200 meters in 24.9, and Nick Skrabe was second in both the discus at 137-8 and the shot put at 44-3. Matt McNerney was third in the shot at 43-0, and Eric Medefesser added a third in the high jump at 5-6.

The Gatos girls (6-0) won all but four events in rolling past Paly.

Beritzhoff won three events for the Cats, taking the high jump at 4-8, the mile in 5:41 and the 800 in 2:33.7, and Farnady won the weights, taking the discus at 127-6 and the shot at 32-5.

Kim Christiansen flew to wins in the long jump at 15-8 and the triple jump at 33-7. Drucker was first in the 400 in 1:01.1, and Chavez took the 200 in 27.1.

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