May 17, 2008

3 track standouts represent Bulldogs at California meet

By Vytas Mazeika / Daily News Staff Writer

Eating lunch in a hotel room prior to Friday's 10,000-meter races at the community college state track and field championships, College of San Mateo's Laura Woodall and Brandon Becerra made time to talk over the phone with the Daily News.

"It's good having Brandon (at the state meet) because we encourage each other, keep each other going, entertain each other," Woodall said.

Neither originally qualified for Friday's race at Cerritos College in Norwalk. They were late additions when higher qualifiers opted to run shorter races. Good thing Becerra and Woodall never stopped training.

"We kept it going and we kind of anticipated Laura's addition anyway," CSM coach Julia Widstrand said. "It didn't come as a surprise at all for her to get in. Brandon was a little more of a surprise."



Brandon's path

Becerra, 21, found out Monday in the weight room that his season wasn't over. After setting a personal record while coming in 10th at the NorCal finals, he relished the chance to one-up himself again.

"I always want to PR after every race," said Becerra, who has completed his eligibility at cross country but has one more track season left. "And if I can leave today after a PR, I'll be very happy."

"You want to know that you can advance as far as possible and you also want one last chance to PR, for yourself," Widstrand said. "You're always peaking at this point."

At Hillsdale High, Becerra ran the 1,600 and 3,200. He credits high school coaches Suvie Kelly and Randy Hurst for ongoing support.

Not the fastest sprinter, Becerra turned to longer distances at the next level. Then he realized just how long the 10k is.

"I thought two miles was the longest distance ever," Becerra said. "And so when I ran the 10,000 at CSM I really missed the two-mile."

The 3,200 meters takes eight laps around the track. The 10k requires 25 laps and lots of willpower.

"I count the first two laps, then I just blank out, I'm in the zone," Becerra said. "I give it my all to the end, and if I collapse, I collapse. I just want to give it my best."

Laura's last 25 laps

Woodall, 19, finished her final race for CSM around 4:30 p.m., roughly half an hour after the start.

"I just want to PR," Woodall said. "I want to give it my all and make my last race memorable."

At Mills High, Woodall's focus was on soccer and softball. She ran cross country her senior year but was never a member of the track team.

After graduating, Woodall played soccer at Canada College for one season and spent a summer training with the CSM softball team. That's when one of the Bulldogs' coaches, Pat Donohue, discovered Woodall running on the track.

Both Woodall and Becerra feel Widstrand, Donohue and Joe Mangan - who is taking the year off as CSM's coach - are a big part of why they reached the state final.

"I never thought I could run the 10k, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without their support," Woodall said.

Originally, Woodall trained for the 800-meter run. That's two laps. But she showed no progress and moved to the longer distances. Not a fan at the beginning, she ended up performing better - even if her body paid the price at the end of every 10k race.

"Usually the last mile is the longest and your body wants to shut down," Woodall said. "But you have to keep fighting your body and telling yourself that you can make it through."



THIRD IN STATE: CSM's Kelly Young, a freshman from Capuchino High, took third in the state in the javelin. She will compete in the shot and hammer today.



BASEBALL AWARDS: While CSM coach Doug Williams was named the 2008 Coast North coach of the year, it was two Skyline College players who were singled out. Sophomore infielder Jeff Ramirez (El Camino) was named the Player of the Year while sophomore right-hander Matt Maggiolo was picked as the Pitcher of the Year. Ramirez hit .406 over 40 games, smacking 12 home runs with 49 RBIs and 23 steals. Maggiolo went 6-1 with a 2.43 ERA over 89 innings of work in which he struck out 76 batters.



E-mail Vytas Mazeika at vmazeika@dailynewsgroup.com.