Eddie Gibb calls those who participate in long distance running “a community.”
The Dos Palos High School cross country coach, himself a former long-distance runner in high school and college, said that his fledging team of boys ands girls has indeed joined the “community” that is the West Sierra League.
The Broncos took a full team to the recent WSL championships, which were held in Mendota. It was the first time Dos Palos had a complete team since the school resurrected the program and were able to score for both boys and girls.
“Many of the boys who were on the team from last year decreased their times by over three minutes in the 5-K race,” Gibb explained.
On the boys side, the race came down to a pair of athletes, the more experienced Brandon Flores of Avenal and Bronco Andrew San Roman.
Gibb said San Roman ran a very smart race, going out at exactly his target pace for the first mile (5:21) putting him in eighth place.
“We imagined that the race would go out fast with Flores setting the pace and that many other runners would follow but would not be able to keep the pace,” said Gibb.
With plenty of gas left in the tank, San Roman moved up to second place with 800 meters left, behind by about 15 seconds.
“Andrew ended just behind Flores at the finish line by about 3.3 seconds,” said Gibb.
On the girls side, Shyanne Bryant also ran a great race and finished in 12th place.
Now it is on to the Central Section Div. IV championships, which will take place tomorrow (Thursday) at Fresno’s Woodward Park. Dos Palos has already got a taste of the hilly Woodward layout, having participated in the recent Roughrider Invitational.
“Whoever can finish first between Andrews and Flores at this meet has a good shot at going to State in Div. IV,” Gibbs explained. Also qualifying for tomorrow’s championship are Bryant, Javier Bravo, and Elijah Lutz.
Dos Palos should be ready and be more seasoned, as Gibbs noted that the WSL has become much more competitive. The time to get in the Top 15 for boys went from a 6:40 mile last year to about a 6:03 this year. The girls Top 15 cutoff went from a 9:22 mile last year to an 8:08 this year.
“I am also loving to see the camaraderie and sportsmanship between the schools,” Gibb added. “Many of the boys have become good friends with the runners from other schools. My team is excited to start training earlier over the summer like their friends from other schools. Distance running is like a community, and we have joined the rest of the league. Coalinga and Mendota’s coaches, for example, are very good friends because they ran together in high school. I am thankful to the other cross country coaches for how welcoming they have made us feel as we have started the teams, and I am excited for the future of our program.”
