Grelli ready to run at CCS track finals
By Dick Sparrer
Melissa Grelli is ready to run.
And the Presentation sophomore showed just how ready she is when she raced to an individual victory in the 3,200 meters at the Central Coast Section track and field trials held last Saturday at San José City College.
Grelli finished first in the 3,200 in 10:54.03, and she was also fifth in the 1,600 meters in 5:00.66 to qualify for the upcoming CCS finals set for May 24, 6 p.m., at the City oval.
Grelli will be joined by teammate Mandy Williams at the section finals. Williams earned a CCS spot by placing eighth in the 800 meters in 2:19.07.
Willow Glen freshman Cristina Diaz will join the two Presentation runners at the section meet this week. Diaz finished 10th in the 3,200 in 11:16.96 to earn a CCS spot.
"Cristina Diaz ran an awesome race," said Willow Glen coach Victor Santamaria of the freshman. "She was extremely tough the entire race, even taking the lead for a couple of laps."
"She fell back out of qualifying contention midway through the race, and things looked grim," he added. "But with two laps to go, she showed her great strength and will by finding another gear and passing five girls to seize a qualifying spot. She sure made this one exciting race to watch."
Diaz's time was the fastest recorded by a Willow Glen girl since 1986 and ranks her third on the school's all-time list.
It's been quite a year for the Willow Glen freshman. She won division titles in the mile and 2-mile and qualified for CCS in each event. Her mile mark of 5:21 is also the best since 1986 and third best in school history.
Other Willow Glen girls qualifying for CCS were sophomore Eleni Mastorakos in the 800, junior Lucy Lynn in the high jump and senior Michelle Castaneda in the 100 low hurdles.
Rams boys making it to CCS were sophomore Juan De Lara in the 1,600 meters, senior John Neal in the 100 high hurdles, senior Tino Liquigan in the 400 and sophomore Ngoan Phan in the 3,200 meters.
Other Presentation athletes qualifying for the CCS meet were Sierra Seimer in the 3,200 meters and Christine Kim in the long jump.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
