Cross country: Locals shine at Laguna Hills Invitational

Tony Altobelli

LAGUNA HILLS - Both Estancia High and Corona del Mar High showed

off some top-quality talent at the Laguna Hills Invitational Saturday

morning to kick off the 2001 cross country season.

“This is like a football scrimmage for us,” Estancia Coach Charlie

Appell said. “It gives us a chance to work out against some top-quality

runners and get some race experience for the younger guys.”

The Eagles were the top team in both the junior boys’ race as well as

the junior/senior girls race for Division III. For the junior boys,

Humberto Rojas took first with a time of 15:46. Eagle teammates Gerardo

Orozco (8th, 16:41) and Evan Van Geem (9th, 16:53) also finished in the

top 10.

In the junior/senior race, Eagle standout Diana Rosette took third

with a time of 18:44, leading the Eagles to the team win.

CdM finished third in that category, despite top-10 performances from

Julie Allen (1st, 17:34), Katherine Morse (5th, 19:29) and Becky Cummins

(6th, 19:29).

The locals were also strong in the senior boys Division III race as

Estancia’s Mike Casillas set the pace with a 16:21 performance. CdM’s

Dustin Hodges took third (16:49), while teammate Ben Inouye placed eighth

(17:11).

In addition to the success of the Sea Kings and Eagles, Newport Harbor

didn’t fare too bad in Division II.

In the sophomore girls race, Lauren Paul paced the Sailors’ attack

with a time of 19:30, while fellow Newport runner Lisa Evans took seventh

(20:23).

On the boys’ side, Nicholas Miller was Newport’s top finisher in the

sophomore boys race, placing fourth with a time of 16:17.

CdM freshmen Ahlia Kattan (21:19) and Melissa Swigert (21:21) showed

the future is looking bright for the Sea Kings, finishing third and

fourth, respectively.

Another third-place finish went to Kinzie Kramer, who cruised through

the sophomore girls race in 21:29. Teammates Jennifer Logan (21;56) and

Sara Claster (21:57) came in eighth and ninth, respectively.

Other top-10 local times included CdM’s Kelly Artz in sophomore boys

Division III (17:18), Courtney Marshall in freshman girls Division III

(9th, 21:54); John Salinas in freshman boys Division III (9th, 19:09) as

well as Newport Harbor’s Alec Urtusuastegui in junior boys Division II

(16:26) and Nicholas St. Andre in freshman boys Division II (18:13).

Newport’s boys will be without the services of standout senior Jesus

Santana, who moved with his family out of the area. “Everyone will have

to take a step forward this year,” Newport boys coach Bim Barry said.

“It’s not just one guy, everyone will have to improve. Hopefully, a race

like this will give all our runners a very intense workout in order to

take that step forward.”