Boys cross country: Eagles’ best good enough for PCL title

Steve Virgen

IRVINE - With one mile remaining in the Pacific Coast League boys

cross country finals, Estancia High’s Humberto Rojas winced in pain. His

legs begged to stop -- his right knee suffered a strain. His heart kept

him running with motivation that would help lead his team to victory.

Rojas fell from No. 2, after the first mile, to a sixth-place finish,

but followed the inspiring example of his teammates, who all ran for

personal-bests, to help the Eagles earn a PCL championship Thursday on

the three-mile course at Irvine Park.

Corona del Mar’s Travis Beardslee won the individual crown.

“I felt like stopping,” said Rojas (15:51). “But, I felt like I had to

finish the race because this is the league finals and we had to win.”

Luis Segoviano, who ran one minute faster than his previous best, led

the Eagle charge and finished in 15:31 for third. Estancia’s Mike

Casillas (15:34) followed in fourth, running 40 seconds faster than his

previous personal best. Eagles Gerardo Orozco (16:08) and Aaron Van Geem

(16:11) finished eighth and 10th, respectively, with personal bests of

their own.

“Luis (Segoviano) ran an awesome race today,” Estancia Coach Charlie

Appell said.

“The motivation,” Appell stated as the reason for the Eagles’ victory.

“The training has been there.”

Estancia won the title with 31 points, 24 better than second-place

Laguna Beach.

CdM was third with 61 points as Sea King seniors Beardslee (15:14) and

Josh Yelsey (15:22) finished first and second.

“It was very important for our seniors to run well,” CdM Coach Bill

Sumner said. “The supporting cast was a little off today. We’ll have a

meeting about that. I’m not extremely excited about the boys race.”

Just before the two-mile mark, Beardslee made his move and broke from

the pack, overcoming a rough start.

“I just did not feel good at all today,” said Beardslee, who noted he

lacked focus. “I lost some distance from the start. But, I told myself

that I wouldn’t let it go that easily. I didn’t want my last opportunity

to go bad. I told myself, ‘I’m not going to be the one who screws it up

for the team.’ ”

Costa Mesa finished sixth, but it was close. The Mustangs scored 127

points, while fifth-place University had 125. Northwood was fourth with

123.

“The boys team, as a whole, did well,” said Mesa Coach Eric Davies of

the Mustangs, who were led by Irwin Salas. He finished fifth in 15:35.