Huipe, Artz on course for bigger things

Steve Virgen

Corona del Mar High junior Kevin Artz and Costa Mesa junior Marco

Huipe are on course to become among Orange County’s top cross country

runners. The two runners displayed their recent improvements in the

Orange County Championships at Irvine Park Saturday morning.

Artz finished 24th in 16:26, the fastest time among Newport-Mesa

District runners in the meet’s Division II race, which also featured

Back Bay rival and Artz’s former school Newport Harbor, which was led

by Alec Urtusuastegui.

Woodbridge junior Michael Haddan won the Sweepstakes race in

14:37.

Huipe shaved 10 seconds off his previous best and came in at

16:45, good for 12th in the Division III race, which also featured

Sage Hill. In the Sweepstakes race, or also known as Division I,

Estancia High senior Humberto Rojas earned the best time of all

Newport-Mesa runners, finishing ninth in 15:32, despite falling and

burning five seconds.

“I hope to be another one like a Josh Yelsey,” Artz said in

response to where he wants to be included among the best in CdM’s

history. “I hope to step it up like him and help the team out. We

have a good team. Our chances are really good in (the Pacific Coast

League). We have solid runners. I think we’ll win league, make it to

state and do well. I hope to win the league (individual) title and

I’m capable of doing it.”

CdM cross country coach Bill Sumner believes Artz has loads of

potential.

“(Artz) can be just like Josh Yelsey,” Sumner said. “The issue is

if he will put all the work in. In natural speed, Kevin has way more

speed than Josh Yelsey. If (Artz) does just as much work (as Yelsey)

he might surpass Josh Yelsey. He can do it. He has the talent.”

Yelsey, who now runs at Yale University, excelled in both cross

country and track and field, in which he finished second in the state

in 1,600 meters (4:14.09) in 2001.

“Josh out-worked everybody,” Sumner said. “Whatever the

competition did, he did that and then some. He always did the extra

stuff.”

Meanwhile, Huipe used the OC Championships to gain motivation that

should last throughout the season and into the spring. Huipe is the

younger brother of former Estancia standout runner Liz Huipe, who now

runs at Vanguard University.

“I told him to start turning it on now,” Costa Mesa Coach Glenn

Mitchell said. “I told him this is his junior year and (the OC

Championships) is his coming-out party. He needs to run out in the

front. He can’t sit back. I think he ran real well. I’m excited for

all these guys. They’re starting to come on.”

Costa Mesa, which won Division III last year, finished seventh in

the same race Saturday. Mustang senior Carlos Ibarra, who did not run

in last year’s race because of illness, finished 20th (16:57), while

teammates Saul Palomar (66th, 17:52) and Jorge Raya (67th, 17:53)

lowered their times from last year. Palomar shaved 1:49 off his time

from last year. Juan Avilez (72nd, 17:59), Tommy Payne (79th, 18:05)

and Stephen Kosnosky (18:13) also competed for the Mustangs.

Mike Voge, a sophomore and Sage Hill’s top runner, did not compete

because of an injured hip. Lightning Coach Nate Miller said he’ll be

back next week and should help the team finish among the top three in

the Academy League. Sage Hill junior Chris Chiboucas lowered 2:35

from last year and finished in 18:00 (74th). Zach Chandy (95th,

18:37), Tim Lefler (98th, 18:48), Tristan Cordier (100th, 18:56), Ian

Livingston (20:10), Eric LaMotte (20:10) and Nick Gross (20:14) also

ran for the Lightning.

In Division II, CdM finished eighth and Newport Harbor, which won

the same race last year, finished 16th. The Sailors’ No. 4 runner,

Wes Pohlman (18:46), “had a really good race and that was a personal

record,” Coach Nowell Kay said.

Nick Miller (35th, 16:40), Nick St. Andre (82nd, 17:26) and Martin

Bernard (19:08) also contributed to Newport’s effort. In addition to

Artz’s performance, CdM finished eighth on the strength of Jack

Turner (43rd, 16:44), Bill Weidner (51st, 16:49), Blake Dillion

(55th, 16:51), James Turner (66th, 17:10), Brandon Borcoman (87th,

17:33) and Danny Quinlan (95th, 17:51).

In Division I, Estancia Coach Charlie Appell said his squad

completed a less than impressive performance. The Eagles, who did not

compete in last year’s OC Championships because of injuries and their

importance on the Mt. San Antonio Invitational, finished 11th, led by

Rojas. Alex Cahuantzi (27th, 16:00), Panfilo Elias (61st, 16:36),

Aaron Van Geem (64th, 16:38), Matt Zich (66th, 16:40), Abel Flores

(88th, 17:09) and Gerardo Orozco also competed for Estancia.

Cahuantzi received a special award for being seventh among the top

sophomores in Orange County.