After winning the 800 meters at the Hampton Phillips Classic last week, Pioneer's Sean Lopes set his sights on his biggest challenge of the season -- a matchup with Aptos senior Jacob Evans at the 25th annual Central Coast Section Top 8 Classic.
Evans, the defending CCS champ in the 800 and 1,600, had the fastest time in the section and second-best mark in the state this year.
But Lopes came through with the biggest win of his career Friday night at Los Gatos High. He chased down Evans with a strong finishing kick, edging his new rival with a time of 1:54:11.
Evans (1:54:56) led after the first lap, surging to a 10-yard lead down the backstretch. But Lopes -- whose time is No. 4 in the state this year -- stayed within striking distance, hitting his targeted 400-meter split of 56 seconds. He made his move with about 100 meters left.
``This was the biggest race of my life,'' said Lopes, who will run for Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo next year. ``It was huge to get a win over a good runner like Jacob. I have to be happy with my kick at the finish.''
Evans also has the section's best time in the 1,600 (4:11.96), but he was scratched in that event to concentrate on the 800 on Friday.
``I wasn't surprised at his kick,'' said Evans, who will compete for Stanford next season. ``I just didn't have it today. My legs felt like Jell-O.
``But there are no excuses -- he passed me and that was that.''
One of the top performances of the day came in the pole vault, where Los Gatos senior Chris Little broke his personal best twice. Little -- whose previous best was 14 feet, 6 inches -- cleared 15 feet, the bar swaying precariously as he jumped up and pumped his fists after landing.
Shortly afterward, local pole vault guru Bob Slover arrived with a new pole for Little, at 15-7 about 7 inches longer than his previous model. After applying some tape, Little tried out his new toy and cleared 15-3 on his first attempt, gaining another personal best and the CCS's top mark this year.
North Salinas sprinter Ronnie Drummer doubled in the 100 (10.70) and 200 (21.86), showing blazing speed and dominating the field.
Westmoor's Julian Eison also doubled, winning the high jump (6-2) and triple jump (46-7.5).
Fremont High's Matt Barkley showed that technique is just as important as brute strength in the shot put. The 205-pound senior was relaxed and consistent, and beat out a field of larger opponents with a throw of 59-8.
In the hurdles events, Santa Clara's Scott Robinson added fuel to a budding rivalry with Aragon's Matthew Wirgler and Oak Grove's Burton Iosefa. Robinson ran a personal- and CCS season-best of 14.72 to beat out Wirgler (15.08) and Iosefa (15.10) in the 110.
Wirgler ran an impressive 300 intermediate, winning in 39.16, followed by Robinson (39.55) and Iosefa (39.93).
CCS GIRLS TOP 8 MEET
Branham's Kaufman wins twice
LOS ALTOS' MILLER SOLID IN 3 EVENTS
Mercury News
Branham's Amber Kaufman hadn't come close to matching her personal best in the high jump, a height that landed her in the state track and field championships as a freshman last year.
But the sophomore broke out of her funk at the Central Coast Section Top 8 Classic on Friday by winning both the high jump and long jump, the only female athlete to win two individual events. Kaufman recorded the state's second-best mark in the high jump by clearing 5 feet, 8 inches, a personal best.
Of course, she had no way of predicting this type of performance, one that included three failed attempts at breaking the meet record of 5-9.
``I didn't think so because I haven't been jumping well this year,'' Kaufman said.
Kaufman's was the best among several solid performances from athletes who will contend for section titles, including Los Gatos senior Ali Dodson and Los Altos senior Allie Miller. Each placed first and second in their respective events.
Kaufman entered the meet with a season-best of 5-2 in the high jump -- short of last year's season-best 5-6 -- and is now tied with Archbishop Mitty's Bethany Johansen for the top jump in the CCS. Kaufman won the long jump with a mark of 17-11, improving upon her No. 3 section mark.
Kaufman said she hopes her performance marks the beginning of a run toward a CCS title and another trip to the state meet. Branham Coach Bob Gordon said competing against some of the section's best was good for Kaufman, who doesn't get pushed at league meets.
``She needed this, being in this type of competition,'' said Gordon. ``I could tell today she was psyched.''
Kaufman could face competition down the line from Miller, who cleared 5-2 on Friday while also competing in the 100 hurdles and 300 intermediate hurdles. Miller, who had cartilage taken out of both knees late last year, placed first and second in the hurdles. (She hopes to compete in four events at the CCS finals, most likely in the high jump, long jump and both hurdles).
``I felt pretty good, but I lost focus in the middle with the high jump,'' Miller said of the event that was sandwiched between both hurdles. ``I'm happy about my performance, but I want to do really well in the high jump. I'm not worried. It's a long season.''
Dodson was hoping to win both the 200 and 400 but, after competing in a dual meet Wednesday, ran out of gas in the 200, her final race of the day. Stephanie Eckels of Silver Creek placed first in the 200, an event that was missing Carlmont's Nicole Theus, the top sprinter in the CCS.
Dodson cruised in her 400 victory, winning in 57.78 seconds.
``I felt good because I've been working hard on getting out well,'' said Dodson, who owns the section's best time in the 400. ``Overall it was an OK race; not one of my best.''
Valley Christian's Evelyn Wing logged the fourth-best time in the 800, winning that event in 2:12.54.
Contact Mark Gomez at [email protected] or (408) 920-5869.