Rojas and Rosete lead Eagles to victory

The boys and girls cross country teams of Estancia High earned a

pair of victories in their Golden West League debut Thursday, when

the Eagles hosted Ocean View at Fairview Park.

Estancia senior Humberto Rojas, fresh off his CIF Division III

senior boys victory at the Laguna Hills Invitational Saturday, led a

pack of Eagles who took the top seven spots in the league-opening

dual meet with the Seahawks. Estancia won, 15-50.

Rojas came in at 15:56, while senior Aaron Van Geem (17:01),

sophomore Alex Cahuantzi (17:09), Geraldo Orozco (17:33), Panfilo

Elias (17:35), Matt Zich (17:46) and Abel Flores (17:57) followed, respectively.

After battling the heat Saturday, Van Geem rebounded and returned

to his usual No. 2 spot.

“He’s an improved runner from his freshman and from his sophomore

seasons,” Estancia Coach Charlie Appell said of Van Geem, who is a

team captain.

On the girls side, senior Diana Rosete led the Eagles to a 15-50

victory. Rosete focused on breaking the school course record and came

with seven seconds shy of the mark, finishing in first in 19:03.

Appell said she was not challenged by the other runners.

Appell was also impressed with Crystal Rincon (third, 20:30),

Aracely Flores (seventh, 23:57) and Fatima Carrasco (ninth, 24:04),

who ran with the junior varsity team last year, and newcomer Marina

Abdul (eighth, 24:02), who competed in her first dual.

“They ran a good race,” Appell said of the quartet. “They went out

strong and they tried to work as a group.”

Estancia returns to competition Thursday in a tri-meet hosted by

Saddleback at Mason Park in Irvine. Crosstown rival Costa Mesa will

also compete in the meet.

GOLDEN WEST LEAGUE BOYS

Estancia 15, Ocean View 50

1. Rojas (E), 15:56; 2. Van Geem (E), 17:01; 3.

Cahuantzi (E), 17:09; 4. Orozco (E),17:33; 5. Elias (E), 17:35; 6.

Zich (E), 17:46; 7. Flores (E), 17:57; 8. Perry (OV), 19:39; 9. Kemp

(OV), 19:55; 10. Thiser (OV), 20:42.

GOLDEN WEST LEAGUE GIRLS

Estancia 15, Ocean View 50

1. Rosete (E), 19:03; 2. Gallo (OV), 20:56; 3. Rincon

(E), 20:30; Reich (E), 22:40; 5. Miller (OV), 22:55; 6. Valdez (E),

23:50; 7. Flores (E), 23:57; 8. Abdul (E), 24:02; 9. Carrasco (E),

24:04; 10. Moreno (OV), 25:26.