Faules, Gleeson strike gold at CCS
Verstegen, Reynolds also win state spots
By Dick Sparrer
They were going for the gold at the Central Coast Section (CCS) track and field finals at San José City College last Friday night.
And Homestead's William Faules and Lynbrook's Kim Gleeson each struck gold ... and then some.
Not only did Faules win the gold medal in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, he also picked up a silver medal with a second-place finish in the 110-meter-high hurdles to lead the Mustangs to a solid fourth-place finish in the boys team standings.
Gleeson came through with a record-shattering performance to win gold in the shot put. But that wasn't all--the Lynbrook senior was also a CCS champion in the discus.
Her performance, along with the efforts of placers Sheridon McPherson and Julie Chen, helped the Vikings to their best CCS finish since 1991. The Vikes found a place in the section's top 10 by running up 22 points to tie Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep for seventh place overall.
Both Faules and Gleeson, along with Homestead's Ben Verstegen and Britteney Reynolds, have qualified for the state meet coming up May 31 and June 1 at Cerritos College in Norwalk in Southern California.
Faules was outstanding for the Mustangs at the section finals. The junior speedster ran away from the field with a win in the 300 hurdles in 38.95, and he was second in the 110 hurdles in 14.77. Verstegen, a senior, was a close third with 14.82.
Faules also teamed with Eddie Sumpter, Steve Nichols and Pat Rugo to finish fourth in the 4x100 relay in 42.66.
The Homestead quartet had finished third in 43.07 at the semifinals a week earlier, but finished behind Valley Christian, Riordan and Bellarmine at the CCS finals to wind up fourth. Only the top three finishers advanced to state.
Still, the Homestead boys ran up 28 points to finish fourth overall in the team standings behind Bellarmine (69.5), Valley Christian (36) and Carmel (33).
Reynolds earned a state trip for the Homestead girls. The junior was tops in the field after the first two rounds with a jump of 18-5.25. But Mary Meyman of Carlmont came through with a jump of 19-0 to finish first and Jade Myles of Mt. Pleasant went 18-7.5 to push Reynolds back into third.
Gleeson will also make the trip to state after her outstanding double victory in the weight events for the Vikings.
The powerful senior heaved the shot 42-3.25 to break her own school record and finish first in CCS. She had set a new school standard of 41-10 at the CCS trials a week earlier.
Gleeson was also a winner in the discus with a heave of 144-9, finishing well ahead of runner-up Katie Isola of Burlingame, second at 129-4.
McPherson, a senior, flew 36-10.5 in the triple jump to finish fifth at the CCS finals, and Chen, a sophomore, ran 15.82 to nail seventh in the 100 hurdles.
The Vikings were also eighth in the 4x100 relay with 50.79.
Cupertino freshman Stacie Boyle finished eighth overall in the 400 meters with 1:01.19.
In other boys action, Cupertino senior Robert McCoy soared 6-2 to tie Ethan Clarke of Bellarmine for sixth place in the high jump, and Monta Vista sophomore Bobby Kritzer nailed seventh in the triple jump at 43-10.
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
