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His best times so far in 2004 are:
Note: Hand timed times are given to tenths of seconds, electronic times are given to hundreds of seconds. Dates and accomplishments this year are ( most recent events are last ). School records are in bold red. Local newspaper articles are linked, as well as full results if they are on the web.
Articles about his team are shown below ( and are also linked above ). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Freelance News: http://www.freelancenews.com/sports/sportsview.asp?c=99192 By the Free Lance staff The San Benito High School track teams finished second in the
11-team Samuelson Co-Ed Relays the school hosted Saturday. It was one of
the best fields of competition. Usually, there are no more than five or six
teams present. San Benito finished in second place behind North County
91-90 after a hurdles team was disqualified. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Freelance News: http://www.freelancenews.com/sports/sportsview.asp?c=100544 Wednesday, March 17, 2004 By the Free Lance staff Both San Benito High varsity track teams came in second in the
Wildcat Relays at Soquel High School on Saturday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Freelance News: http://www.freelancenews.com/sports/sportsview.asp?c=101146
Monday, March 22, 2004
By the Free Lance staff Both 4 x 400 meter San Benito High School varsity relay track
teams had good showings at the prestigious West Valley Relays on Saturday. The
two teams saved their best for last as the girls took second and the boys took
first. “Both of those times are the fastest times that we have ever run
this early in the season,” said Baler coach Jennifer Logue. “We are really
excited. Having such a good early-season times gives them that much better
chance of making it to state. The four people we have on each of those teams are
not really in shape yet. I know they can run faster.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Freelance News: http://www.freelancenews.com/sports/sportsview.asp?c=102030
Speedy harriers post strong numbers at Stanford meet
Monday, March 29, 2004 By the Free Lance staff The San Benito High varsity track and field teams competed at
the Stanford Invitational last weekend along with more than 4,200 high school,
college and professional runners, jumpers and throwers.
The picture above is of the 4 by 400 meter San Benito High
School team, with Maurice Greene, defending Olympic 100 meter champion and
former world record holder. Left to right are Jesse Rice, Chad Tungate,
Maurice Greene, Jessica Rux ( 12 year old long distance champion ), Willie
Sanchez, coach Iran White and Tamar Elbanhawy. If you click on the
picture, it will expand to its full size.
Freelance News: http://www.freelancenews.com/sports/sportsview.asp?c=102611
San Benito runs by Gilroy
Friday, April 02, 2004 By the Free Lance staff The San Benito track teams handily defeated the visiting
Gilroy Mustangs on Thursday at Hardin Field. Freelance News: http://www.freelancenews.com/sports/sportsview.asp?c=103427
Two runners head down under
Thursday, April 08, 2004
By Nathan Mixter/Sports Editor
Two local athletes will be racing with the kangaroos and emus this summer. San Benito High hurdler Johnny DiSalvo and sprinter Jesse Rice have been invited to compete in the Parkroyal Down Under International Games in July among some of the best high school track athletes in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. “It is an awesome opportunity for these guys,” said Iran White, who took over as the boys track coach this year after about seven years as an assistant. “It is great to see them excited about track beyond the regular season. It will make them better and will make our whole team better.” The two athletes aren’t usually together because of the different events they compete in. But they will be flying out together with the rest of the California team from Los Angeles this summer to Austrailia. Neither athlete has been out of the country before. The pair started competing together when DiSalvo was a sophomore and Rice was a freshman. "During my sophomore year, I knew I had pretty good legs and I was pretty fast, so I knew track would be a good sport for me,” DiSalvo said. “I wasn’t really that good my first year, but I have been working hard ever since.” DiSalvo and Rice were both active in several different sports before racing at San Benito. DiSalvo played football during his junior year of high school and played in Little League and Babe Ruth growing up. “I would always go out and play with friends in the streets growing up,” DiSalvo said. Rice played Little League Baseball and recreation soccer when he was young. He competed in various sports in high school such as soccer and basketball. Rice is also an avid golfer. DiSalvo - a hurdler DiSalvo, a senior, runs in the 110-meter high hurdles, the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, the 400-meter and the 4 by 400-meter team. “Going out there and winning this year has been fun,” DiSalvo said. “Track is a great sport. Not only is it great competition, but it is a great atmosphere to be in.” He won both hurdles events in King City last week. Last year, in the Central Coast Section semifinals, he had an official time of 16.16 in 110-meter hurdlers. His best time this year is a 16 flat, but he hopes to get it down to about a 15.5. In the 300 hurdles, his fastest time is a 42, and he hopes to have it down to a 40.5 by the end of the season. “Its going to take a lot of practice and hard work,” said DiSalvo of meeting his goals. “I have perfect form. I just have to get my speed up.” DiSalvo said he plans to put in even more long hours after the high school season. “When track season ends, I will be continuing my training for the Austrailia meet,” DiSalvo said. “The coaches want to build a good conditioning base for us at the beginning of the season, then have us break before CCS and peak again before we leave.” Hurdles coach Carlos Beltran said DiSalvo is a natural hurdler because of the effort he puts in. “He is one of the hardest workers out their,” Beltran said. “Once he realizes how good he is, there is no stopping how fast he can be this year. There is nothing wrong with his form, but his speed is hurting him a little in the longer races like the 300 hurdles.” Beltran, a former 300 hurdler who graduated two years ago, said he wanted DiSalvo to compete in the longer hurdles as well this year because of the smaller team. Rice - a sprinter Rice competes in 400-meter, the 200-meter and the 4 by 100-meter and 4 by 400-meter relays. His best event is the 400-meter. Last year he finished with a 51.7 in CCS - a time that he has equaled this year at Stanford. In the 4 by 400, he finished with a time of 3:27 in CCS. His best time in the 4 by 400 event is 3:29, which he recorded at West Valley. His goal is to be around a 49 by the end of the season. “My sprinting coach (White) is really good,” Rice said. “He makes sure I am working my hardest.” “I’d like to taper off his workouts a little bit before CCS,” White said. “After the regular season, I would like to see where he is and what he needs.” Rice said he gets a lot of the motivation to run from Chad Tungate, another Baler sprinter. “He is just as fast as I am,” Rice said. “There is a friendly competition going between us, because I don’t want him to beat me.” Although White mostly trains the distance runners, he also works with some of the sprinters like Rice and Tungate. “Jesse has a really great attitude and is one of the hardest workers on the team,” White said. “This year, we are trying to work on his top-hand speed and his initial acceleration. Hopefully, we’ll have him peak next year as a senior.” DiSalvo still needs about $2,000 of the $3,198 needed to go to Australia, and Rice has about half of what he needs to make the trip. The two athletes will have a garage sale on Friday and Saturday at Rice’s house on 1051 Clearview Drive to raise money for the trip. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pinnacle News: http://www.pinnaclenews.com/sb-edition/sbsports1.php
Track team members accept invitation to international event By JOHN REID Pinnacle Correspondent Make way for the filming of "Johnny and Jesse's Excellent Australian Adventure." Two San Benito High track and field performers – Johnny DiSalvo and Jesse Rice – will travel to Australia this summer to participate in the International Down Under Games. The games run from July 5-13 on Australia's Gold Coast, then the two boys will spend a couple of nights in Sydney, site of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. "We'll have time to explore Australia," said Rice, a junior 400-meter man for the Balers. "It will be an experience being out of the U.S. It will be an adventure!" "It will be really cool," added the senior DiSalvo, who specializes in both hurdle events. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience." The boys are in the midst of raising the $3,200 necessary to cover expenses. Both of them are about $2,000 short. The pair are teaming up for a garage sale at Rice's house this Friday and Saturday. Each athlete has sponsor letters out soliciting donations from local businesses. "Our family and friends are donating stuff for the garage sale," said Rice. The trip is a go, even if the boys have to swim to get there. Several athletes were invited based on last year's CCS results, and the two accepted the offer. Baler Athletic Director Randy Logue couldn't be prouder. "Both athletes have worked hard," said Logue, a former Baler boys' head track and field coach. "Rice is an avid weight lifter and has really paid his dues. DiSalvo has come out of nowhere to be a fine hurdler. They both persevered through hard work." Rice, who also runs on the Baler 4X400 and 4X100 relay teams, plans to run the 400-meters during the games. "If they have a 60-meter dash, I'll run that, too," said Rice. "I'll also run the 200-meter race and the 4X400 relay." DiSalvo, who runs the 110-High Hurdles and 300-Intermediate Hurdles, plans to run both in Australia, with a slight deviation. "They run the 400-Intermediate Hurdles there," said DiSalvo. "I'll run the open 400 and I want to form a 4X400 relay team with Jesse when we get there. We can enter as many events as we want." Both athletes are enjoying fine seasons in the States, so to speak. Rice logged a personal record in the 400 last season with a time of 51.4. His best this year was at the Stanford Invitational when he clocked 51.7. He's part of a Baler 4X400 relay team that sizzled with a 3:29.21 at the West Valley Relays earlier in the year. As far as winning this year's Tri-County Athletic League meet, Rice must contend with Palma's Luke Lippincott, who is running a second faster than Rice at the moment. "Jesse is running well," said Baler head coach Iran White. "For him to win league won't be easy, but he could compete for first." DiSalvo, who has a personal record of 15.7 in the 100's and 42-flat in the 300-IM's, is expected to battle for the league title in both events with teammate Siljef Tabancay. "I hope they're both battling it out for first," said White. "That would be nice." "DiSalvo has come a long way," said Baler hurdles coach Carlos Beltran, a Baler alumnus of 2002. "His technique is perfect. We need to get him up to speed by the time he goes to Australia. We're working on it. He'll be there." Other sports, such as golf, track, swimming, basketball and volleyball, will be part of the games. Participants will come from all around the world. Admittance to museums and theme parks are free for all entered. And in Sydney, the boys will be able to take a gander at the Olympic venues from four years ago. The boys will stay at five-star hotels. All told, it should be one 'excellent adventure'. "I've seen athletes with a lot of talent who don't work hard and never amount to much," said White. "And I've seen athletes who don't have talent, but work hard and do well. Jesse and Johnny both have talent and both work hard. They'll be able to figure out their steps in Australia. They'll find out that they can push the pace harder and be more brave. Going to Australia will be great for them." Note: The garage sale fundraiser, with profits to be divided between both athletes, is this Friday and Saturday at 1051 Clearview Road in Hollister. Financial contributions can be mailed to the same address, with the zip code 95023.
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