Boys cross country: Harbor wins fourth straight league title

Nov. 4, 2000 12 AM PT

Steve Virgen

IRVINE - There was a bigger goal than a Sea View League individual

cross country championship for Newport Harbor High’s Chris McMillen.

Though he had been beaten by a freshman in the two previous league meets,

McMillen was hardly concerned about beating Woodbridge’s Michael Haddan.

Instead, McMillen focused on his team. He insists he was just one part

of the team effort that won the Sea View League championship as five

Sailor runners finished in the top seven at Irvine Park Friday. The

league crown is the fourth straight for Harbor.

McMillen’s part was a 15:15 clocking and he is now the league’s

champion.

“It was great to see that all of us were running in a pack,” said

McMillen, a senior. “It was fun to run with John (Peschelt) for as long

as we did. I don’t think we’ve ever run like that together.”

Last year, McMillen finished 16th in the league finals. Besides

winning the team title, he was also determined to improve on his previous

showing.

“Redemption,” McMillen said of his performance. “This race really

helped me because I have never ran out in front like that. This gives me

a lot of confidence.”

McMillen’s strong finish was supported by the Sailors, who went

4-5-6-7. Those runners were John Peschelt (15:50), Jesus Santana (15:57),

Joel Furman (16:04) and Ivan Romero (16:08).

“We never really talked about (Haddan) much,” Harbor Coach Bim Barry

said. “We try to make it more about the team. That’s the style we try to

instill in our kids.”

Alec Urtusuastegui (16:29) and Chris Negrete (16:55) finished 13th and

16th, respectively.

Harbor’s Sea View League title adds to the Sailors’ brilliant season.

They won the Orange County Championships last month. Now, Barry wants