St. Francis junior Julian Vargas tops field
Cross country runner is showing well for himself ahead of league championships in wins vs. Santa Cruz, MVC.
SANTA aRUZ >> St. Francis High cross country runner Julian Vargas is showing well for himself, two weeks ahead of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League championships at Pinto Lake County Park.
The Sharks’ junior produced his second win — and fourth top-five finish in as many tries — as he won the 3,200-meter race in 10:01 on Thursday at Santa Cruz High.
Vargas shattered his personal-best time for the distance by 42 seconds, but he was a little bummed with his finish. His goal was to break 10 minutes.
“It’s going pretty good,” Vargas said. “I’ve PR’d almost every time, each race.”
With his solid showings, Vargas already has a game plan in mind for the SCCAL championships. “Follow whoever is ahead of me, try to go negative each time, and, hopefully, maybe win it.”
Santa Cruz sophomore Jim Ratliff took second in 10:12. Monte Vista Christian
School sophomore James Ponzio was third in 10:36 and teammate Andrew Bachman was fourth in 10:46. Santa Cruz’s Hunter Kelly (10:52) rounded out the top five.
Santa Cruz edged MVC 27-28.
It was Ponzio’s second straight race leading the Mustangs and his first 3,200.
“So running it here today was a lot of fun,” said Ponzio, noting he had zero expectations.
In girls action, Santa Cruz senior Isabel Sanchez, who has committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, rebounded from her third-place finish last week at Scotts Valley with another win. She finished in 11:23, more than a minute ahead of second-place finisher, Caelan Gilliam (12:44) of MVC.
St. Francis’ Monserrat Ramirez (12:46) and Claire Burke (14:10) finish third and fourth, respectively, and MVC’s Julia Martin (12:44) rounded out the top five.
At San Lorenzo Valley FELTON >> SLV seniors Cory Nounnan and Casey Crouch returned to competition after taking last week off. Nounnan won on the 2.5-mile course in 14:17 and Crouch was fifth in 15:06.
Aptos’ senior trio of Ben Laughlin (14:25), Aidan Tomasini (14:27) and John Eikemeyer (14:29) took second through fourth, respectively, and helped the Mariners win 23-32.
Sophomores Trent Nosky (15:16) took sixth and Chase Jacques-Maynes (15:26) was eighth as both runners scored for the Mariners.
SLV junior Marco Evans, who won last week against Watsonville, took seventh in 15:17.
In the girls race, SLV had just one runner finish in the top nine: sophomore Kaitlin Seagle (18:21) took fourth.
Aptos seniors Susana Estrada (17:14) and Kirsten Martin (17:39) — both committed to Cal Poly-SLO — and sophomore teammate Summer Jacob (18:21) finished 1-23. Sophomores Brooke Willoughby (18:29) and Annie Eikemeyer (18:40) finish fifth and sixth, respectively, to help the Mariners win 17-46.
At Harbor
SANTA CRUZ >> Scotts Valley junior Jeremy Kain stayed unbeaten on the season by finishing the 3,200-meter race in 9:32 at Harbor. Teammate Patrick Goodrich took second in 9:47 and was followed by teammates Austin George (10:15), Jack Brownfield (10:17) and Jonah Verinsky (10:51).
Pacific Collegiate beat Harbor 19-35.
PCS’s Spencer Koontz (10:55) won ahead of Harbor’s Joseph Hibberd (11:28). The Pumas’ Connor Spangrud (12:08), Brigham Aldrich (12:24) and Xander Lee (12:39) rounded out the top five.
In the girls action, the Boothby sisters finished 1-2 once again. Amber, a sophomore, won in 11:12 and Ashlyn, a freshman, took second in 11:44. Scotts Valley’s Dresden Brabo (12:58), Greta Feague (12:59) and Rafaela Putnam (13:17) rounded out the top five.
Like Kain, Amber is unbeaten on the season.
Pajaro Valley had an incomplete team.
Harbor’s Olivia Chen (13:00), Neva Lunine (13:07) and Ava Root (13:55) were the top three finishers in a race against an incomplete PCS team. Sofia Ferrer led the Pumas in 13:59.
At Pinto Lake Park
WATSONVILLE >> Watsonville hosted a double dual meet with Kirby, Ceiba and Soquel on the 2.93mile course. Soquel senior Eli Ainsworth crushed the field with his 15:38 finish. Sophomore teammate Brody Staley was second in 16:48 as the Knights prevailed 22-35 over the Wildcatz.
Kirby and Ceiba had incomplete teams.
Watsonville was led by senior Domingo Martinez (17:14) in third place and Wildcatz junior Sebastian Abonce was fourth in 17:20. Soquel senior Kevin Falkenroth (18:01) rounded out the top five.
Kirby junior Tommy Shaughnessy took 10th in 19:31.
In girls action, Soquel’s Emma McCain (18:47) won ahead of Wildcatz sophomore Dahlia Barranco (20:35). McCain is also a Cal Poly-SLO commit. Soquel junior Ava Manier (20:41) took third.
Junior Nellie RubioPintor of Ceiba took fifth in 21:10 and Netta Wainshal finished 12th in 30:17 for Kirby.
The 49ers cleared up a small part of their defensive secondary puzzle Friday.
Emmanuel Moseley, a three-year veteran out of Tennessee, agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth up to $10.1 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Moseley was scheduled to become a restricted free agent when the negotiating period begins Monday, with the 49ers retaining right of first refusal.
Moseley has played in 29 games with 17 starts over three seasons. He played 12 games with eight starts in 2020 and had one interception while being hampered by a concussion and a hamstring strain.
It was Moseley who got lost in coverage in Super Bowl LIV against Kansas City Chiefs, surrendering a 44-yard gain on third-and-15 with 7:13 left in a play which sparked a comeback win for the Chiefs. Moseley joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2018, starting out on the practice squad and being promoted to the 53-man roster in November of his rookie season.
The 49ers still have work to do before and after free agency. Cornerbacks scheduled for free agency include Richard Sherman, Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon, Dontae Johnson and Jamar Taylor.
• Daniel Brunskill, a 16game starter on the offensive line, was brought back on a one-year tender as an exclusive rights free agent.
Ronald Blair III, a defensive end who last played in 2019 with a torn ACL in Week 10, was released. Blair started last season on the physically unable to perform list with complications from the injury and did not play in 2020.
BRADY SIGNS EXTENSION, FREES SALARY CAP SPACE FOR BUCCANEERS >> Tom Brady has agreed to a contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that provides the Super Bowl champions with muchneeded salary cap relief and will help the seven-time NFL champion reach a goal of playing until he’s at least 45.
The extension confirmed by the team frees about $19 million in salary cap space, a move that improves Tampa Bay’s chances of returning as much of its championship roster as possible for 2021.
Seven starters from the Super Bowl were among two dozen Buccaneers eligible to become free agents next week.
Brady’s extension adds an extra season on the twoyear, $50 million contract he signed in free agency last March following a 20-year run with the New England Patriots.
NEWTON TO RETURN TO PATRIOTS >>
The New England Patriots are completing an agreement to re-sign free-agent quarterback Cam Newton, according to The Associated Press.
The one-year deal is worth close to $14 million. The deal was first reported by The
Boston Globe.
Men’s basketball
NO. 23 COLORADO 61, CAL 58 (THU.) >> Evan Battey scored 15 points and No. 23 Colorado shook off a sluggish start to beat California in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals late Thursday night.
The Buffaloes and Bears had a long wait after the two previous games went through three overtimes, setting up a true Pac-12 after dark game.
Colorado (25-7) finally got a few to fall, using a 15-3 run to go up 11, and withstood a late Cal run to close out a surprisingly difficult win over the tournament’s No. 11 seed.
Grant Anticevich led the Bears (9-20) with 11 points.
Golf
POSITIVE COVID-19 TESTS DERAILKANSAS,VIRGINIATOURWESTWOOD TAKES LEAD AT NEY RUNS >> For the second PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP >> time in as many days, major Lee Westwood knows he’s conferences have called off playing some of his best tournament games due to golf, and he gets another COVID-19 concerns — this chance to see if it can hold time involving No. 11 Kansas up against the best field. and No. 16 Virginia. Westwood had all the
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And earlier Friday, the 66.
Atlantic Coast Conference That gave him a one-shot canceled the league’s semifinal lead over Matt Fitzpatrick game between the topseeded (68) going into the weekend Cavaliers and Georgia on the Stadium Course Tech due to a positive test, at the TPC Sawgrass, with quarantining and contact U.S. Open champion Bryson tracing within the Cavaliers DeChambeau not too far behind. program. The announcement came less than 12 hours Westwood, who turns before the Yellow Jackets and 48 next month, played well Cavaliers were set to play the enough to win the Arnold first of two semifinal games. Palmer Invitational last
It is unclear what the COVID-19 week at Bay Hill except that issues mean for the DeChambeau was one shot Virginia and Kansas going better in a fascinating duel forward, though the Jayhawks of generations on a course released a statement that favors power. that they would continue preparing He was at 9-under 135 and for the NCAA Tournament. will be part of the All-England final pairing Saturday.