Alejandra Barrientos, San Lorenzo Valley (6/06/2001) Published Wednesday, June 6, 2001, in the San Jose Mercury News

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Alejandra Barrientos, San Lorenzo Valley

Sport: Track.     Event: 1,600 meters.     Class: Senior.
Accomplishment: Barrientos won the state championship in Sacramento on Saturday, running a 4:43.24 -- a Central Coast Section record and the second-fastest time in the nation this season. Barrientos, who trailed Montgomery's Sara Bei for 3 1/2 laps, stormed past Bei on the final turn, increased her lead down the stretch and won her second state title. Barrientos, who won the state meet as a sophomore and was injured during last year's state meet, emerged from a field that included three of the top five milers in the nation.

Comment: ``I'm just real proud of her, because it's been real tough for her this whole year,'' San Lorenzo Valley Coach Rob Collins said. ``Now she's so much more ready for the future, knowing you can have setbacks but also make comebacks. And it was a big comeback.''

Honor roll

Track and field: Undine Becker, Mt. Pleasant; Ruth Graham, Gunn; Aoife Keane, St. Ignatius; Shannon Rowbury, Sacred Heart Cathedral; Elzunia Wojcicka-Lamb, Hollister.

Matt Bates, Los Gatos

 Sport: Track. Event: 800 meters.     Class: Senior.
Accomplishment: Bates finished third in the 800 final Saturday at the state meet in Sacramento, the highest finish among boys from the Central Coast Section. Bates led San Gorgonio's Tykie Harris and Raphael Asafo-Agyei of Don Lugo until the final 50 meters before finishing in 1:54.25. Bates, who won CCS titles in the 800 and 1,600, won his qualifying heat Friday with a 1:52.61.
Comment: ``I was just dead, I had nothing left to finish the race,'' Bates said. ``I'm happy with a third-place finish, but I came in hoping to win it.''

Honor roll

 Tennis: Philip Kao, Mitty
Track and field: Antwon Guidry, Leigh; Adam Tafralis, Mills; Alexi Sevastopoulos, Saratoga; Neil Davis, Bellarmine.

Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to make athlete of the week nominations from Friday through 8 p.m. Sunday. Phone Mark Gomez at (408) 920-5814. Please provide statistics and a home telephone number for the coach and/or athlete.