Saratoga figures to be competitive on track

By Dick Sparrer

Marshall Clark isn't predicting a championship for his Saratoga track and field team this spring. Nor is he predicting a title for his Falcons anytime soon.

Because the veteran coach knows how tough it is to win the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, and he's realistic about Saratoga's expectations.

Of course, that's not to say that the Falcons are not competitive. Because they are, and that, in and of itself, is quite an accomplishment for the track program at the local high school.

It wasn't all that long ago that the Falcons were mired in the El Camino Division of the SCVAL, and floundering in the middle of the pack. Then along came Clark.

The talented coach turned both the track and cross country programs around at the school, and the Falcons made the jump from the El Camino level to the more competitive De Anza Division.

Winning there is tough, and so is competing. But Clark expects Saratoga to be quite competitive, especially in the boys' division where the Falcons finished second in the league a year ago.

"Our boys should be a good dual meet team," said Clark.

Leading that competitive effort for the Falcons will be varsity returners, seniors Jeff Verson, Jeff Beyers and Andrew Bosworth and junior David Cheng.

Cheng was third in the 300 intermediate hurdles at the league meet last spring. Verson finished fifth in the league in the 110 high hurdles and was sixth in the 300 intermediate hurdles. Beyers was fifth in the 3,200 meters and Bosworth was sixth in the 200 meters.

Joining the vets will be newcomers Jesse Alejandro (first in the both the frosh-soph 200 and 400 last year) and Richard La (first in the frosh-soph 800).

Jacob Christopherson (1,600 and 3,200), Ryuta Saka (300 hurdles), Lawrence Blair (triple jump, intermediate hurdles), David La (1,600), James Lii (100) and Arnold Chu (100) are other top prospects on the Saratoga track this season.

Top girls returning for Saratoga this spring are seniors Laura Birenbaum, Taylor Teerlink and Heather Finnecy.

Birenbaum was a league champion and CCS finalist in the 100 hurdles a year ago, and Teerlink was third in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles at the league finals. Fennecy placed fifth in league in the discus.

Joining the veterans are newcomers Nicola Rooke (league junior varsity champion in the 100 hurdles) and Jamie Pfeifer (league placer in the 100 and 200 at the JV finals).

Freshman Eevi Aura is a "great prospect" in the 100 and 200 for the Falcons, says Clark.

"We have individual stars [in girls' competition], but we are not balanced," said the coach.

Measure N: Voters pass measure for library bonds

DeCinzo

Family Daze

Saratoga Sampler

Sports Briefs

High school baseball: Prospect vs. Pioneer

High school softball

Saratoga High School track and field