Falcons set the pace in SCCAL league meet
SCOTTS VALLEY PRODUCES BOYS, GIRLS INDIVIDUAL CHAMPS
BOYS: Scotts Valley junior runner Kain holds off Aptos’ Laughlin for repeat of championship
WATSONVILLE >> The Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s relocated, and compacted cross country season couldn’t have had a more thrilling finish on a sunbaked Friday afternoon.
Scotts Valley junior Jeremy Kain defended his league title by outkicking Aptos senior Ben Laughlin down the home stretch, recording a time of 14:49 over the 2.95-mile course at Pinto Lake Park.
Kain and third-place finisher Patrick Goodrich (15:03), a se
nior, helped the Falcons to the team title as well with 29 points, just ahead of Aptos with 31. Soquel (117) was third, with Santa Cruz (122) and San Lorenzo Valley (128) rounding out the top five teams.
There’s no Central Coast Section or state meets for the athletes this season, which was moved to the spring and compacted into six weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But it’s hard to imagine either meet producing more drama.
“It was from the beginning to the end, there was no easy breath in that, there was no recovery in the race, it was just who wants it and you’ve gotta go for it,” Kain said.
Laughlin, who turned in a 14:50, concurred.
“When you go up against someone like Jeremy … he’s a big guy to go up against. He’s sharp and he fast and he’s intimidating,” he said. “Every time I go up against him, it was like, that’s Jeremy, he’ll be 30 seconds ahead of me. This season it felt like it took a lot of mental strength not only to hold on to Jeremy but to try and pass him a couple of times. It just came down to the last 100 meters and he had the legs, and I didn’t.”
“The last 400 meters we were both moving, and he came up on me and I said ‘I can’t let this happen. I’ve worked so hard, I’m not going to lose this in the last 100,’ ” Kain said. “That’s how it always comes down in the races. That’s how it went a few weeks ago when we raced here. It was a lot of fun.”
Kain won all six races he competed in this season.
“I always wish I can win, but I think I held my own out there,” Laughlin said.
“Jeremy ran an amazing race, he did exactly what he needed to do I’m so proud of him,” said Scotts Valley coach Gretchen Schmitt.
Schmitt and Kain also pointed out the efforts of Goodrich in the race.
“I think everyone worked really well. I’m really proud of my teammate Patrick because he took the lead at some points and everyone was working off each other in that front group,” Kain said.
“(Kain) and Goodrich worked together. Patrick was my senior; he ran an amazing race. Got a PR by about 40 seconds,” Schmitt said.
“A fantastic finish,” Aptos coach Dan Gruber said. “Ben’s been working hard all year and it was a great race. Good teams locked up in a good battle and we came on a two-point shortage, but you’ve got to give it to them. I felt they were the preseasons favorites, and we gave them a heck of a battle, we just came up a little short, but I’m proud of my kids and you’ve got to be proud of the Scotts Valley kids, too They raced well.”
Aptos senior Adian Tomasini was fourth (15:17) and fellow Mariner John Eikemeyer (15:25) was fifth.
“It’s been a very good season. I wish we could have lined up everyone and raced together. It would have helped a little with the machinations, as I should say, but it would have made the race a little clear for all the kids, but I’m not complaining,” Gruber said. “We got it in, we got it in, we got a season in and I’m real happy.”