Boys track and field: Eagles overrun by Uni

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - University High needed four buses to bring its track

field and swimming squads to Estancia Wednesday. More than half was for

the track team which overwhelmingly provided the advantage when the

Trojans’ boys squad defeated the Eagles, 85-38, in the last Pacific Coast

League dual meet for both teams.

“That is like our entire student body,” Estancia hurdles coach Steve

Crenshaw joked as he watched the Trojans leaving. “Did they bring their

whole school? We deal with this every year. The numbers just kill us. I

cannot recall a meet where we’re dominated by numbers and we win.”

With the PCL preliminaries scheduled Monday at Irvine High at 2 p.m.,

the Eagles concentrated on just staying healthy, rather than winning,

especially in the case of six Estancia athletes.

In the league prelims, the Eagles will have juniors Robert Arroyo and

Mario Macias, who compete in the shot put and discus, Mike Casillas and

Eric Lopez in the 1,600 meters and 3,200. Junior Pablo Tanielu will run

the 100 and try to place in the long jump, while sophomore phenom

Humberto Rojas is focused on the 800 and 1,600.

“We just want to survive,” Estancia distance coach Charlie Appell said

of the Eagles’ final dual meet. “There are shin splints, the flu ... our

performances aren’t important. We just want to be able to carry through

to make today valuable and for some to get (personal-best times).”

Rojas, Casillas and freshman Jorge Zuniga came through with

first-place honors. Rojas won the 800 (2:07.1) and finished second in the

1,600 (4:39.91), while Casillas crossed first in the 3,200 (10:24.59) and

finished third in the 1,600 (4:46.8). Zuniga won the triple jump in 39-1

1/2 and was third in the 200 (24.49) and the 400 (56.2).

Zuniga is one of five freshmen who has competed on the varsity level

throughout the season. Jason Johnston, Nicholas Koreerat, Panfilo Elias

and Omar Montillo, along with varsity sophomores Kyle Casillas, Abdul

Kaiyum and Joey Lindquist, will get a chance to battle against their own

level as they will be placed in the frosh/soph competition for the PCL

prelims and finals.

Estancia boys coach Dominic Lakey says the underclassmen should

benefit from the change and will certainly have a chance to claim

individual titles.

“They’re not going to qualify for CIF yet, because they are so young”

Lakey said. “I’d rather have them run and jump more competitively at

their age group. I think we will have some success.”