NORTH BAY LEAGUE TRACK: Rauch a double winner for Casa Grande

Senior Nicholas Rauch left the North Bay League with a performance to remember Friday in the NBL Track and Field Championships at Windsor High School.

The Casa Grande standout won both the 1600 in 4:27.1 and the 800 in 2:00.11. He also finished second in the 400 in 51.41 and ran on Casa’s third-place relay team, finishing his leg in 51.2.

Rauch’s performance was the highlight for the Gauchos, who finished third as a team with 77.5 points behind league champion Maria Carrillo (164.5) and Santa Rosa (102). The Gauchos were followed by Windsor (60), Rancho Cotate (60), Montgomery (32), Cardinal Newman (32) and Ukiah (10).

Casa Grande’s girls were fifth with 74 points behind league champion Santa Rosa (142.5), Maria Carrillo (117), Montgomery (78.5) and Windsor (75). Ukiah (26), Rancho Cotate (23) and Cardinal Newman (0) rounded out the field.

Greg Poteracke also provided Casa Grande’s boys with a victory, winning the shot with a 49-1 effort.

The top six finishers in each event qualify for the Redwood Empire championships coming up Saturday at Santa Rosa High School.

Sophomore Zachary Esponda was fifth in the 800 in 2:02.55, while Matt Salazar ran fifth in the 1600 in 4:34.6 and was also sixth in the 3200 in 10:04.51.

Aaron Lu came up with an exceptional effort in the 300-meter hurdles, running 41.92 to finish second to Analy speedster Alex Netherda (39.96).

Casa Grande’s 4x400 relay team finished third in 3:36.65, behind winning Maria Carrillo (3:29.52) and Santa Rosa (3:30.62).

Jaleel Lawson led Casa Grande jumpers, finishing fourth in the long jump (19-10) and the triple jump (40-3).

Noble Schlueter was sixth in the high jump (5-2).

Distance strong

Best efforts for the Casa Grande girls came in the distance events.

Illeana Moon was second in the 800 in 2:23.86.

Adria Barich took second in the 1600 to Santa Rosa’s spectacular Delaney White. White was timed in 5:05.27, while Barich ran 5:09.36, the 33rd fastest time ever in the meet. Andrea Gonzalez was fourth in 5:27.44.

Longer, White won the 3200 in 11:25.46, but Casa’s Gonzalez was third in 11:50.03 and Emma Moon fourth in 11:51.03.

Casa Grande received outstanding sprint efforts from Jordan Boehning, third in the 100 in 12.99, and Destiny Wlliams, third in the 200 in 26.24.

Casa Grande’s relay teams both ran well, with the 4x100 quartet second in 50.33 to Maria Carrillo (50.23) and the 4x400 team third in 4:09.00 behind Santa Rosa (4:06.10) and Montgomery (4:06.42).

Sophomore Annie Gallo had a strong 31-7 triple jump to finish second and was also seventh in the long jump at 14-2.

Freshman Annalea Hanakeawe had a good 30-3 shot put to finish third, while another freshman, Francisca Theodore, was seventh at 24-0.