By Chris Parker
Hollister’s Sinry Mendoza has big goals.
He won his first state championship last season as a sophomore. This year, he added a 1600-meter title to his resume even if it wasn’t quite the time he hoped for.
“It means a lot because it is a state championship, but honestly I am kind of disappointed because I was trying to go for that sub-4:10,” Mendoza said. “At the end of the day I still ended up winning and it feels good.”
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Mendoza ran a time of 4:13.32 to edge out El Dorado Springs sophomore Wyatt Klaiber’s 4:14.33 runner-up finish.
Throughout the race Mendoza’s biggest fan, his dad, was on the front rail of the stands whistling and cheering his son on.
“(My family) is a blessing,” Mendoza said. “People tell me ‘I love it when your dad whistles for you’. It is a blessing.”
Mendoza came back later on Friday and placed second in the 800 with a time of 1:53.45 just behind John Burroughs junior Chris Tao’s 1:53.08.
Mendoza has come a long way from his freshman year where he did not finish top 10 in any of the distance events at state.
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“I would not believe it,” Mendoza. “I remember my freshman year I got 11th in the mile, 10th in the two-mile and 14th in the 400. I don’t think my freshman self what I am doing right now.”
Mendoza looks to defend his 3200-meter state title on Saturday.
