Boys track: Ocean View edges Estancia at the finish

Richard Dunn

COSTA MESA - Freshman Humberto Rojas could be a future star for

Estancia High, but he’ll need some help putting points on the scoreboard

if the Eagles are going to crack the win column in a boys track and field

dual meet this year.

Rojas captured the 800 and 1,600 meters Thursday, and the host Eagles had

a chance to win the nonleague meet against Ocean View in the final event,

but came up just short in the 1,600 relay.

Ocean View, which swept the relays and most of the hurdles, erased a

one-point deficit by winning the last event and defeated Estancia, 63-59.

“Our distance guys can’t do it all,” said Estancia distance coach Charlie

Appell, referring to the efforts of Rojas, Louis Segoviano, Mike

Casillas, Danny Vargas and Jordan Fissel.

Estancia, which swept the 1,600 and both weight events, while taking two

of the three scoring slots in the 800 and 3,200, remained winless in five

dual meets this year. The Eagles are 0-3 in the Pacific Coast League,

having lost to Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar.

Rojas, who has clocked a 10:07 in the 3,200 this year, is a multifaceted

runner whose range begins at the 400. In this meet, Rojas won the 1,600

in 4:50.52 and the 800 in 2:10.50, the only Eagle to double.

“It’s a very positive situation for the boys, but I’m trying to keep

(Rojas) out of the leadership role until his sophomore or junior year,”

Appell said. “I don’t know (what his best event is). He can go in the

quarter on up. He’s run a 2:07 800 and a 56-second quarter.”

Segoviano barely trailed Rojas in the 800 and 1,600, placing second in

both events with times of 2:15.53 and 4:52.61, respectively. Fissel was

third in the 400 at 57.0.

Casillas crossed the tape first in the 3,200 with a time of 10:43.34,

followed by an Ocean View runner and Vargas (11:03.19), and was third in

the 1,600 (4:56.68) as Estancia took all three spots.

In the field events, Estancia’s Travis Chandler won the triple jump at 40

feet 4 inches, while teammates Josh Veach (shot put) and Cesar Romero

(discus) captured the weights.

Veach went 42-0 3/4 in the shot put and placed second in the discus at

127-10, while Romero’s winning discus mark was 132-10. Romero was also

third in the shot put (25-5).

Also scoring for Estancia in the throws was Robert Aguilera, who was

second in the shot put (37-9 3/4) and third in the discus (115-4).

Rolando Vivar picked up points for the Eagles in the sprints, finishing

second in the 200 (24.36) and third in the 100 (11.72).

In addition to his title in the triple jump, basketball standout Chandler

was second in the high jump (5-10) and third in the long jump (19-9).

Manny Avalos added a runner-up finish in the triple jump (34-8 1/2) for

Estancia.