16 Sonoma Valley athletes to compete at NCS championships

Sixteen Sonoma Valley High athletes will be headed down Sonoma Highway this Saturday to the NCS Redwood Area track and field championship meet, for the chance to advance to the “Meet of Champions” later this month.

The 16 – which includes several athletes competing in more than one event, and two alternates – jumped the hurdle to the NCS level with strong performances at last weekend’s VVAL finals, held at American Canyon.

The Dragons who will be competing as individuals include Luke Sendaydiego in two sports, as he tied for first in high jump at VVAL with a 6'02"; and landed sixth in the triple jump with 40 feet even. Sendaydiego is also competing as a member of the 4x100 relay team.

Kaylie Barrera will compete in both the long jump (15'11") and triple jump (34'08.5"), having come in second in both events.

Connor Barry came in third in the boys triple jump, at 40'07", followed by Nate Jordan with 40'02", and both will be competing at Maria Carrillo along with Sendaydiego in that event.

Shot-putter Mason Matulaits will be there too, placing fifth with a 40'10" toss. And Gavin Blanusa came in fifth in the 400 meter race with 52.24 (winning time was 49.97)

The boys 4x100 meter relay team tied with Petaluma for a qualifying fifth; members include Andrew Powers, Sendaydiego, Jesus Robles-Benitez and Evan Raffaini, with a time of 45.42 – winning time was 43.55. Hunter Belleville and Mateo Luque will be there as alternates.

The team of Blanusa, Liam Sheldon, Robles-Benitez and Belleville came in fifth in the boys varsity 4x400 relay, with a time of 3:40.54 (winning time was 3:25.46).

The girls 4x400 qualified in seventh place with the team of Anabelle Hunter, Chelsey Crespo, Valeria Gutierrez and Jazmine Garcia Flores; their time was 4:45.77 (winning time was 4:12.38).

The NCS Redwood Area championship will be held Saturday, May 11, at Maria Carrillo High School in Santa Rosa, beginning at 9 a.m.