Photograph by Brian Prince
Saratoga senior Alex Daniels races to the finish line for a first in the 800 meters in a dual meet against Los Gatos. Daniels was first in the 800 at the league finals held at Los Gatos last Thursday.
Daniels saves the best for last
Birenbaum, Ricketts star for Saratoga girls at De Anza Division finals
By Dick Sparrer
Alex Daniels has had a pretty fair track career during his four years at Saratoga.
The senior has helped spark the resurgence in the track and cross country programs at the high school, leading the Falcons first to glory in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League and ultimately to respectability in the rugged De Anza Division.
But as good as Daniels as been in past years for the Falcons, it seems that he saved the best for last.
Daniels outran Zack Regner of Los Gatos to finish first in the 800 meters at the De Anza Division finals held last Thursday night on the Los Gatos track. Daniels, who had provided a preview of things to come when he ran past Regner in the 800 in a dual meet a week earlier, covered the two laps in 1:56.7.
Daniels was one of two Saratoga winners at the finals. Laura Birenbaum raced to a first in the 100 low hurdles for the Saratoga girls.
Daniels and Birenbaum topped a list of 10 Saratoga placers at the De Anza finals who will now advance to the Central Coast Section North Regionals on May 15, 1 p.m., at Los Gatos.
But though Daniels will run on to compete at the CCS level, last Thursday's performance marked the end of his illustrious SCVAL career. And he capped that career with a victory.
Daniels, Shoor star
Saratoga and Los Gatos dominated the 800 meters at the league finals. Daniels was first, with Regner and Jeff Hoeft finishing two-three for the Wildcats.
Saratoga senior Alex Shoor came through with an individual fourth in 1:59.3 to give the Falcons a one-four finish. Shoor, like Daniels, a key competitor in the Saratoga track and cross country programs through the years, was also fifth in the 1,600 meters in 4:33.9.
Senior Josh Glasser starred in the sprints for the Falcons at the league meet. Glasser was fourth in the 100 in 11.46 and fifth in the 200 in 23.28.
Junior Chris Chang topped the 300 intermediate hurdles in 42.0 for a third for Saratoga, and Jeff Verson, also a junior, covered the 110 high hurdles in 17.03 for fifth. Junior Ian Jang placed in two events for the Falcons. Jang was fourth in the long jump at 19-103Ž4 and added a fifth in the triple jump at 39-93Ž4.
Birenbaum wins
Birenbaum headed up a list of four Saratoga placers in the girls division, including senior standout Anne Ricketts and juniors Taylor Teerlink and Heather Finnecy.
Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Senior standout Anne Ricketts (No. 2) romps down the straightaway as she competes in the 1,600 meters at the league finals. Ricketts was second in both the 1,600 and 3,200 at the league meet.
Birenbaum was the league champion in the 100 low hurdles in 15.67, and she added a second in the 300 intermediate hurdles in 46.54.
Teerlink was third in the two hurdle events, running 16.37 in the 100 lows and 47.70 in the 300 intermediates.
Ricketts finished second in both the 1,600 and 3,200 to CCS sensation Katie Brizgys of Palo Alto. Ricketts was second in the 1,600 in 4:59.7 and second in the 3,200 in 11:07.3.
Like Daniels and Shoor in the boys division, Ricketts has been a consistent star for the Falcons during her four years as a varsity runner at Saratoga.
Finnecy also placed for the Falcons at the meet. The junior was fifth in the dicus at 101-8.
Falcons top Cats
Saratoga wrapped up the dual meet season with an impressive 69-53 over rival Los Gatos in De Anza Division boys action.
Daniels was a double winner in the 800 (1:58.43) and the 1,600 (4:26.7), and Glasser won the sprints, taking the 100 (11.23) and 200 (22.9).
Jang soared to wins in the long jump (19-5) and triple jump (38-111Ž2), and Eric Giannella was first in the discus (126-8) and second in the shot put (42-7).
Verson was first in the 300 intermediate hurdles (43.52) and second in the 110 highs (17.18), and Jess Alejandro took the 400 (53.58) with Dave Lin second (55.15).
Joseph Carter was second in the 800 (2:00.75), and Jeff Beyers was second in the 3,200 (10:47.3).
Alejandro (200), Luke Anderson (3,200), Steve Chuang (long jump) and Ryuta Saka (110 highs) added valuable thirds for the Falcons.
Ricketts was a twin winners in the 1,600 (5:12.2) and the 3,200 (11:30.4), but the Saratoga girls lost 82-45 to the Wildcats.
Teerlink took the 300 lows in 49.13, and Birenbaum won the 100 hurdles in 16.00.
Teerlink (100 hurdles), Birenbaum (300 hurdles, long jump), Finnecy (discus), Karen Bencala (shot put), Laura Lin (3,200) and Kari Johnstone (triple jump) added seconds for the Falcons, and Teerlink (triple jump), Finnecy (shot), Joanna Chan (1,600) and Dernil Wang (3,200) picked up thirds.
Young Falcons fall
Nicola Rooke was first in the 100 and the 100 hurdles, but Saratoga lost 68-49 to the Cats in the girls junior varsity division. Lindsey Moore took the 300 hurdles, and Keala Meyer took the discus.
Saratoga lost 81-45 to Gatos in the boys frosh-soph division. Arnold Chu (100), Ed Tseng (400), Andy Nelson (high jump) and Andrew Kornblatt (long jump) each won events for the Falcons.
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