Sean Hogan inherited Manteca High’s track program in 2007 with no more than 30 kids on the team.

He now has at least that many on the Valley Oak League champion varsity boys squad alone.

Hogan attributes the program’s recent run of success to the growth in numbers along with key additions to his coaching staff to which he gives all the credit.

After two individuals — Vincent Herrera (1,600) in 2010 and P.J. Lyons (110, 300 hurdles) in 2011 — qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation State Championships, the Buffaloes finally got to achieve something as a unit.

Manteca’s boys went undefeated during in VOL dual meets to capture their first title since 1989 and have high hopes going into the postseason, which begins with the Valley Oak League Championships at Sierra High today.

“In the beginning we thought it would be the same as usual — we thought we’d be just okay,” said junior sprinter Jordan Lyons, the younger brother of P.J., who know competes for Sacramento State. “Once we started winning the meets we realized that we had a shot.

“After beating Sierra we knew we were close. At that point it wasn’t just about the individuals, it was about the team. We hadn’t won (a league title) in so long that ever since it’s just been one big avalanche of good energy. Being with the people that made that accomplishment happen is a good feeling.”

Rolland Pacheco, a senior, has been one of the team’s most improved athletes. A key contributor to the team’s 4x400 relay team, he has excelled in the pole vault and is a contender in both league and the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV/V meets.

“I didn’t know what pole vaulting was until I got here,” said Pacheco, who attended Ripon High as a freshman but was not on the track team. “Ever since Coach (Craig) Bingham came on board my rate of progression has skyrocketed.”

The future is bright for the Buffaloes, who have a nice mix of youngsters to go with the upperclassmen. Senior Elijah Surrall (discus) and junior Daniel Clemons (shot) are among the leaders in the field events. Lyons provides leadership on the track along with junior distance standouts Isaiah Cruz and Philip Herrera, Vincent’s younger brother who is out will miss the rest of the season with a leg injury.

The underclassmen are led by sophomore sprinter Donavan Lucas and freshman jumpers Carl Chandler and Lechi Nkwocha.

With the Buffaloes snapping their league championship drought, they are eyeing their first ever section title. Rival Sierra has won seven total, including five in the last seven years.

The top three finishers in each event in today’s VOL meet qualify for the Division IV/V preliminaries which take place May 15 at Modesto Junior college.

“All the cards have to fall into place,” Hogan said. “We have to push kids through that we don’t expect to push through. There are some teams in the section that are loaded like Patterson, Sierra and Oakdale.

“Our main concern right now is to get kids to qualify. Once we accomplish that then we can start really breaking things down and see if we stand a chance of doing that. In the past it just hasn’t been a reality because of (a lack of) numbers.”