Boys cross country: Rojas runs to CIF title

Steve Virgen

WALNUT - Breakfast was but an afterthought for Estancia High junior

Humberto Rojas Saturday morning. He was too nervous to eat. After all he

was on the verge of stunning the CIF Southern Section Division III cross

country competition at Mt. San Antonio College.

Rojas, the Pacific Coast League champion, won the Division II title in

15:25.1 and led the Eagles to a fourth-place finish to advance to

Saturday’s State Finals in Fresno.

Estancia Coach Charlie Appell said his Eagles have yet to run their

best race this season, but they still had enough gas to grab the last

qualifying spot and put together 115 points, 57 ahead of fifth-place

Nordhoff.

Barstow won the Division III title with 36 points, placing four

runners in the top eight and its fifth runner came in 20th. The race also

featured Corona del Mar, which finished 10th with 231 points, and Costa

Mesa, which came in 12th with 246 points.

In Division II, Newport Harbor ended its season as its top runner Alec

Urtusuastegui (47th in 16:24.8) helped the Sailors finish 13th. Rubidoux

won that race with 62 points, 68 ahead of second-place Katella.

The last division final featured the CIF Division III boys teams of

Estancia, Costa Mesa and Corona del Mar.

In what Appell called, “a pleasant surprise,” Rojas took over the race

just before the second mile and maintained a steady five-meter lead the

rest of the way. Barstow’s Kalan Ray, who Rojas ditched up the first hill

of the course, finished second in 15:34.9.

“It took me by surprise to grab the lead and be out by myself,” Rojas

said. “I felt more more energy last week. I didn’t eat breakfast this

morning; I was so nervous.”

Estancia senior Mike Casillas, who was the only runner who wore

sunglasses during the race, came in as the Eagles’ No. 2 runner at 12th

in 16:06.7. Estancia finished 12 points behind third-place San Luis

Obispo, and Appell said the Eagles paid the price for a lack of

aggressiveness on the hills of the course.

“They know they are better than fourth place,” Appell said. “Whatever

happened we still haven’t been able to get our (best) race.”

Appell also said running without seniors Eric Lopez and Luis Segoviano

this year gave the Eagles more obstacles to overcome. Segoviano, who was

among the Eagles’ top five runners, and Lopez were out because of

academic reasons. Appell said Segoviano improved his grades, but can not

qualify for sports until after Nov. 26.

“Right now, we’re still not as good as we should be,” Appell said.

“But we still have one more week.”

Junior Geraldo Orozco was Estancia’s third runner, coming in 36th in

16:49.5, just ahead of CdM senior Dustin Hodges (39th in 16:52.5), who

led the Sea Kings.

Estancia junior Aaron Van Geem finished 41st in 16:54.9, and his sophomore teammate Panfilo Elias came in 44th in 16:56.8, just before

Costa Mesa senior Irwin Salas (45th in 16:59.3), who led the Mustangs.

CdM’s Bo Wiedner also finished in the top 50 out of 98 runners, coming

in 47th in 17:01.5, and the future of Costa Mesa, sophomore Marco Huipe,

finished in 50th in 17:08.

Newport Harbor also has a solid future with a sophomore, Nick Miller,

who finished 53rd in 16:32.7 in the Division II race. Senior Joel Furman

closed out his Sailor career with a 16:44.8 for 67th out of 105 runners.