The Willow Glen Resident

Rams in race for track title

Willow Glen boasts strength in weights, distance events

By Dick Sparrer

It's been nearly 20 years since Willow Glen last won a league championship in track and field. But that streak could come to an end soon... very soon.

The Rams are 5-0 in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League with just one dual meet remaining. Willow Glen will visit winless Valley Christian on April 30, 3:30 p.m. A win over the Warriors would send the Rams into the division championship meet as the heavy favorite to win it all.

"We're happy, and we're excited, but we still have a ways to go," said Willow Glen head coach John Owens.

A win over Valley Christian would give the Rams the division dual-meet title, but that's only half the battle for Willow Glen. The league championship won't be decided until after the league finals on May 6, 3:30 p.m., at San Jose City College.

Points are awarded for both dual meets and placing at the league finals. So Owens looks at the road ahead with guarded optimism.

"I think the meet's going to be pretty close," said Owens of the league finals. He sees San Jose (4-1) and Santa Teresa (3-2) as the teams that could cause his Rams the most trouble.

Still, Owens is pleased to see Willow Glen as a league-title contender once again.

"We seem to have brought the sport back alive," he said.

Willow Glen came through with a crucial win last week, outrunning Santa Teresa 77-50 to remain unbeaten.

Distance stars Chris Watkins and Eyasu Kebede and weightmen Rich Clarke and Doug Murr have been key competitors for the Rams this spring.

"Our distance team is loaded," said Owens.

Watkins is unbeaten in the 800 meters this season and ran to a win in 2:06.9 against the Saints, leading a Willow Glen sweep in the event. Freshman Oscar Garcia was second, and Leo Garcia finished third. L. Garcia added a win in the high jump at 5-6 against Santa Teresa.

Kebede was first in the two-mile in 10:26.8 to continue his winning ways in the event this spring.

Noe Torres has been a top finisher in the mile for the Rams this season. Torres, who ran 4:40 at the Hampton-Phillips meet at San Jose City College a couple of weeks ago, finished second in the mile against Santa Teresa. He was also second to Kebede in the two-mile.

Kamal Abdelbaki, L. Garcia and O. Garcia are other top milers for the Rams, and Jeff Holt, Nick Fill and Eric Morales give Willow Glen depth in the distance events.

"The distance events have been very strong for us," said Willow Glen distance coach Mike Galindo.

Clarke and Murr have also been top performers for the Rams this season. Clarke is unbeaten in the shot put, winning the event with a solid 43-10 effort against the Saints last week.

"That was a very good throw for him," said Galindo.

Murr was second in both the shot put and discus against Santa Teresa. Ben D'Antonio, Fernando Betancourt and Chris Cumbo have been other top throwers for the Rams.

"We have good depth and good support there," said Owens.

"We were confident that we had good distance and throwing teams this year because we had a lot of guys returning," added Galindo.

But the real surprises for Willow Glen have been in the sprints, the jumps and the hurdles.

Speedster Giancarlo DaCosta has been a consistent winner in the 100 and 200, and Joe Martinez has been the WG leader in the hurdles. Both are members of the 4x100 relay team, too.

DaCosta romped to a win in the 100 in 12.3 against Santa Teresa and was second in the 200, despite an illness. His season best in the 100 in 11.5.

Martinez supported with a first in the 110-meter high hurdles in 17.9, and he was second in the 330 lows.

"These guys were two real surprises," said Galindo. "They came out and they're doing a good job, winning quite often."

DaCosta and Martinez team with Murr and John Ross to make up the Willow Glen 4x100 relay team, and Murr and Martinez join with Watkins and Ric Branchaud to make up the 4x400 relay team.

Willow Glen ran 49.4 to take the 4x100 against the Saints last week.

Junior Jesse Weston completes the squad for the Rams. He was first in both the long jump at 18-2 and the triple jump at 37-2 against Santa Teresa.

"He's been a real strong staple for us," said Galindo of Weston.

"He's been essential," added Owens. "He makes us a good, balanced team."

Owens is looking for big things from Weston at the league finals, figuring the better jumping pits at San Jose City College will help the junior improve his marks. He's hoping that Weston can top 20-feet in the long jump and 40-feet in the triple jump.

The Willow Glen coaches expect their Rams to score well in the distance and weight events at the finals, and figure the meet could be decided in the jumps, sprints and hurdles.

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