Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer

Los Gatos speedster Ashley Caldwell, racing to a win at the CCS Top 8 Classic, finished second in the 800 and third in the 1,600 at the Central Coast Section semifinals last weekend at Los Gatos to qualify for the CCS finals set for Saturday on the LG track.

Los Gatos to host CCS track finals

Bates, Edwards each win at CCS semi's

By Dick Sparrer

Matt Bates seems to be winding up the 2001 track season the way he started it--by winning.

Bates, who opened the year with an impressive victory at the indoor nationals in New York, was a double winner for Los Gatos last Saturday when the Wildcats played host to the Central Coast Section semifinals.

Bates raced to wins in the 1,600 and 800 meters, and will now head up a large group of Los Gatos boys and girls who have qualified for the CCS championships set for May 25, 6 p.m., at Los Gatos.

The section meet returns to Los Gatos for the first time since 1985. The Gatos boys won the CCS title that year, and head coach Willie Harmatz thinks they have a chance of winning it at home again this season after a solid showing at the semifinals.

"This puts us in the hunt for team title with Bellarmine," said Harmatz heading into the finals. He looks for the Gatos girls to finish somewhere in the top three.

Leading the Cats in their quest for a CCS title will be Bates and Brian Edwards, who each won events at the CCS semi's last weekend. They were also two of five Wildcats to place in two events at the rugged meet.

Bates was first in the 800 in 1:55.12, and he also took the 1,600 in 4:16.68. Russ Martin was third in the 1,600 in 4:16.77 with Tomas Viramontes sixth in 4:25.24.

Edwards romped to an individual victory in the 400 meters in 48.83, and he was fifth in the 200 in 22.09. Edwards broke his own school record in the 400, set last year when he ran 48.85.

Bates and Edwards also ran legs on the winning 4x400 relay team for the Wildcats. The seniors joined Viramontes and Jeff Hoeft to run a blistering 3:21.73, the third fastest time in Gatos history. Bates ran a quick 49.0 split, the third fastest relay split in school history.

"Bates had a great triple," said Harmatz of the senior's 800, 1,600 and 400 relay leg.

Martin also placed in two events at the CCS semi's. The senior was third in the 1,600 and he was also fourth in the 3,200 in 9:40.76.

Harmatz was especially pleased with Martin's showing in the 1,600.

"That was a huge race for him," said the coach, indicating that Martin's 4:16.77 was a personal best by four seconds and placed him third on the LG all-time list. "He's been keying on the 2-mile all season, but now he's one of the CCS leaders in the mile."

Nik Kay heaved the discus a personal best 153-6 for a sixth-place finish, and Seung Lee added a seventh in the 110-meter high hurdles in 15.2.

In girls competition, Ashley Caldwell and Kim Christiansen each placed in multiple events for the Wildcats.

Caldwell raced to seconds in the 800 in 2:14.48 and the 1,600 in 5:06.92. Junior Michelle Beritzhoff was 12th in the 1,600 in 5:17.06.

Caldwell also teamed with Simone Drucker, Meghan Kirby-McFarland and Carolyn Penner for a second in the 4x400 relay in 3:58.52. Kirby-McFarland sprinted to a fine split of 58.6 and Caldwell raced to a 57.9 split.

"Caldwell's triple was outstanding," said Harmatz of the junior's showing in the 800, 1,600 and 400 relay split. "That was her best triple ever."

Drucker, Kristen Fumia, Aly Chavez and Ali Dodson joined forces for a second in the 48.87, the eighth fastest time in school history.

Christiansen, another talented Los Gatos junior, soared to a third in the triple jump at 36-11 with teammate Lynsey Erickson sixth at 34-11. Christiansen was also fifth in the long jump at 17-7 3/4, good for eighth on the Los Gatos all-time list.

Rounding out the list of Los Gatos placers last weekend was freshman Sally Stanton, who tied for seventh in the 300-meter low hurdles in 47.35.

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