May 6, 2009
The Santa Clara Men's and Women's Track teams are ending the season on the right foot. This weekend the Broncos will compete in the Occidental Invitational.
Fourteen Men and Women will be competing on Saturday, and all of them have a chance to do big things.
"Every woman has a chance to do well this weekend," said head coach Tom Service. "They are healthy, in great shape, and motivated to do well.
The same can be said for the Men's side. Assistant coach Felipe Montoro is excited to for the six men competing on Saturday. "Like the Women's side, the Men are healthy and fit," said Montoro. "The guys will have to focus on competing and the times will take care of themselves."
The fourteen Bronco Men and Women earned their opportunity to compete in the Occidental Invite this weekend because they achieved goal standards that were set in the beginning of the year by Service and Montoro.
On the Women's side Nicole Giove, Noelle Lopez, Whitney Porter, Veronica Vazquez, and Stephanie Wilson will compete in the 5,000m race.
Anna Wheatley will go for the school record in the steeplechase, and she is one of four senior Women running their last race as a Bronco this weekend.
Freshman Jenny Light will compete in the 800m race, and Kazimir Brown will run in the 100 and 200m.
On the Men's side Stephen Koch will be joined by Nhunguyen Le in the steeplechase. Evan Hennessey, John Laughlin, Robbie Reid, and Richard Zhu and will compete in the 1,500 and 800m.
Because this is the last race of the season there will be a different feel after the meet. "It will be very bittersweet because it is the last race for four of our senior women," said Coach Service. But it will be a nice way to close the season because most of them have had their best seasons ever."
The four senior women are: Noelle Lopez, Whitney Porter, Veronica Vazquez, and Anna Wheatley.
The Broncos hope to continue their record setting run, and finish out the 2009 track season on a high note.