Vargas Runs Down Nemesis on Way to Championship

Distance runner Maria Vargas of Santa Ana Valley High School has never had to run very far to find stiff competition. Last year, she shared the spotlight at her school with teammate Maricela Benavides.

Benavides, who had transferred to Santa Ana Valley from Estancia for her senior year, was named The Times’ girls’ runner of the year.

This cross-country season, Vargas lost only 1 Century League dual meet to a runner from another school--Villa Park’s Laura Doering. Though Vargas beat runners from opposing schools, she usually didn’t place first. More often, she was second to teammate Teresa Beltran.

Vargas had defeated Beltran in September at the Dana Hills Invitational, but not again until Saturday.

Vargas, The Times’ athlete of the week, turned in her best time--17 minutes 49 seconds--to place first in the Century League cross-country championship, ahead of the favored Doering.

“I was just trying to run my normal race,” Vargas said. “I didn’t want to change anything. I passed Laura (Doering) and just started going on my own pace. I kept it, and nobody tried to stay up with me.”

Vargas, running under 18 minutes for the first time, finished 16 seconds ahead of Beltran and 42 seconds ahead of Doering. Despite the convincing margins, Vargas didn’t think she was going to win.

“I was thinking Teresa would win,” she said. “All those (past) races I felt I tried my best, and she still beat me.

“I guess I just wanted it more than she did. I did feel like I had something inside of me that just wanted to burst . . . I just took off.” Vargas’ victory was surprising because she had never placed among the top 3 in the Century League finals in her high school career. But for her coach, George Payan, it was not unexpected.

“Her freshman, sophomore and junior years, she placed fourth, and this year she just popped,” he said. “She has been improving 10% every year. She has just been consistent, just growing and developing every year.”

With talented runners dogging her footsteps her junior and senior years, Vargas’ patience has paid off.

“What Maria has had to do is make a transition and wait her turn,” Payan said. “I give her a lot of credit for not quitting when (Benavides) challenged her and took her position. Some athletes would have quit or broken down mentally. But she accepted the challenge. She is persistent.”

Initially, it was hard to adjust to being second to Benavides, Vargas said. “But then I realized I didn’t have the pressure anymore. She knew how to handle the pressure and it didn’t bother her and it didn’t bother me. We became best friends,” she said.

Though she has lost regularly to Beltran this year, Vargas didn’t get discouraged. The competition has been good for her, she said.

“I never would have done this without Teresa helping me out. I always admired the way she ran. I always tried to beat her and I never could beat her. It helped me to keep on trying,” she said.

TOP PERFORMERS

Lisa Alipaz, Canyon’s No. 1 singles player, won her sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, to help her team win its first Century League girls’ tennis title with a 74-73 victory over Foothill Monday. Alipaz also won the Orange County Invitational on Nov. 5.

Martha Pinto, a sophomore at Katella, won the individual title in the Empire League cross-country championships for the second consecutive year. Running on an injured foot, Pinto finished the 3-mile course at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton in 18:52.

Maria Vargas

Santa Ana Valley High

Position: Cross-country runner

Height, Class: 4-11, Senior

Last Week: Vargas won the Century League cross-country championships in 17 minutes 49 seconds Saturday.

Season: Turned in the ninth-fastest time at the Orange County championships at 18:52.1.