Friends and the finish line

You might know Humberto Rojas as the fastest guy at TeWinkle Middle School in the late ’90s, or maybe as the fastest guy at Estancia High School after that. At 24, the cross- country standout has imprinted his name on just about every facet of Costa Mesa’s running lore, as the fastest man at Orange Coast College and Vanguard University as well.

On Saturday, Rojas upheld his reputation by winning his second straight 5K race at the Costa Mesa Community Run.

The 3.1-mile race took him 15 minutes and 29 seconds (an average of sub-five-minute miles), which, despite being more than 10 seconds faster than anyone else in the field, was 39 seconds shy of his personal best, 14:50.

But if it weren’t for his Mike Casillas, his friend, teammate and closest competitor through middle school and high school, Rojas might not have made it out.

“I wasn’t going to do [the community run], but he came and woke me up,” Rojas said, pointing to Casillas as he sat by the podium where he was recognized.

The 2012 Olympic hopeful had just run a 14:48 Friday at an invitational at Mt. San Antonio College.

When Rojas arrived, he saw teammates that he hadn’t seen in more than a year. Seeing old friends was also one of the draws for longtime Costa Mesan Candace Rice.

After coming to the inaugural community run last year with her husband, Rob, and her son Bryan, who coaches basketball at Costa Mesa High School, Candace decided to bring nine more Rices this year.

The family fielded two teams of runners, all with the same last name, not to mention the four grandkids that were pushed in strollers. Although the second annual event benefits elementary, middle and high schools throughout Costa Mesa, the Rices have an uncanny connection to one in particular: Costa Mesa High School.

Rob and Candace were sweethearts at the school before getting married. Their three boys all went to the same school where all three met their wives. Now their grandchildren are climbing the Costa Mesa ranks.

“I want [the run] to be much bigger so I’m hoping it grows as it continues. It’s a great way to see people that we don’t see very often,” Candace said.

This year about 650 people ran, which is about 100 more than last year’s total, organizers said.

The race is put on mostly through the efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers. Many of them managed to stay upbeat Saturday even after staying up late for Friday night’s pre-race dinner and movie night and waking up at 4 a.m. to set up.

For a firsthand account from Alan Blank, click here.

Reporter ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.