More than 40 local athletes from Aptos High, North Monterey County High, Monte Vista Christian, Mt. Madonna, Pajaro Valley High, St. Francis High and Watsonville High will be competing at Saturday’s Central Coast Section Track and Field Semifinals at Gilroy High.
Field events are set to start at 10 a.m. and the track events begin an hour later.
Here are four local athletes to watch on Saturday:
• Layla Ruiz, Watsonville – The Wildcatz’s star freshman runner will have a solid chance to advance from Saturday’s meet to next week’s section championships back at Gilroy High.
She is ranked 10th in the first heat of the 3,200-meters but has run much faster than her seeded time of 11 minutes, 45.66 seconds, which she recorded at last week’s Monterey Bay League Masters Meet.
In order to advance, Ruiz will need to finish in the top four of her heat or record one of the four next fastest times. Her personal best in the event (11:20.36) would easily extend her season by at least another week.
• Katelyn Strader, Pajaro Valley – Having their sophomore high jumper qualify for the CCS meet was an accomplishment in itself for the Grizzlies.
By clearing 4 feet, 8 inches at the MBL Master Meet last week, Strader extended Pajaro Valley’s streak of sending at least one athlete to the section meet to five consecutive seasons — an impressive feat for a program without its own track.
• Natalia Ackerman, Aptos – The sophomore high jumper has possibly the best chance of any Mariner, aside from senior distance runner Marea Zlatunich, to advance.
Only 12 athletes in the CCS have cleared 5-2 — her personal best — this season. The top 12 high jumpers from Saturday’s semis will advance to the section championships.
• Marea Zlatunich, Aptos – The senior distance runner headed to Cal Berkeley next season will be considered one of the locks to advance to next week’s section finals in both the 1,600 and 3,200. But she could send a message to the other athletes running along side her by winning her heat in each event. A dominant performance on Saturday could go a long way for Zlatunich, who has hopes of advancing to the CIF state meet this season.
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CCS SCHEDULE
Field events
• Girls pole vault: 10 a.m.
• Girls discus: 10 a.m.
• Boys long jump: 10:05 a.m.
• Girls long jump: 10:10 a.m.
• Boys shot put: 10:15 a.m.
• Girls high jump: 10:20 a.m.
• Boys pole vault: 1:50 p.m.
• Boys high jump: 2 p.m.
• Boys discus: 2 p.m.
• Girls triple jump: 2:05 p.m.
• Boys triple jump: 2:10 p.m.
• Girls shot put: 2:15 p.m.
Track events
• 4×100 Relay: 10 a.m.
• 1,600: 11:40 a.m.
• 100/110 hurdles: 12:15 p.m.
• 400: 12:58 p.m.
• 100: 1:32 p.m.
• 800: 2 p.m.
• 300 hurdles: 2:30 p.m.
• 200: 3 p.m.
• 3,200: 3:30 p.m.
• 4×400: 4:30 p.m.
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LOCALS AT CCS SEMIS
Aptos High
>> Boys 4×100 relay
>> Marea Zlatunich: 1,600 & 3,200
>> Jackson Schenone: 1,600 & 3,200
>> Indra Lyons: 100 hurdles
>> Owen Mastropietro: 110 hurdles
>> Hunter Matys: 100
>> Anthony Cardenas-Ramos: 100
>> Sofia Natividad: 3,200
>> Payton Masuen: discus
>> Jordan Kadlecek: triple & long jump
>> Lytrell Francis: triple jump
>> Brynn Mitchell: triple & long jump
>> Sachi Land: triple & long jump
>> Natalia Ackerman: high jump
>> Alex Austen: shot put
>> Nathan Arrellano: shot put & discus
Mt. Madonna
>> Paola Jacobs: shot put
Monte Vista Christian
>> David Wang: 200
>> Andrew Bachman: 800
>> Delaney Ezeji-Okoye: pole vault
>> Abby Lynch: high jump
North Monterey County High
>> Girls 4×400 relay
>> Evelyn Orozco: 400
>> Sarah Delgado: 800
>> Fernando Perez: 300 hurdles
>> Faith Mora: 3,200
>> Jocelyn Cazarez: shot put & discus
>> Cameron Reyes: triple jump
>> Alexus Espino: high jump
>> Victor Martinez: shot put
>> Guy Gida: shot put
>> Konan Van Lear: discus
Pajaro Valley High
>> Katelyn Strader: high jump
St. Francis High
>> Justin Parker: 200
>> Samantha Bellucci: high jump
Watsonville High
>> Girls 4×400 relay
>> Miguel Leon: 1,600
>> Damian Rivas: 1,600
>> Daniela Salazar: 800
>> Layla Ruiz: 3,200
>> Rolando Llamas: discus
>> Jackie Barocio: triple jump
