Escondido’s Cox Finally Outruns Keim, Captures Title

Four times this year Escondido’s Michele Cox tried to race by two-time section cross-country champion Melissa Keim of San Pasqual. Four times she failed.

Cox got her fifth chance in the Division II race at Saturday’s section championships over a 2.45-mile course at Morley Field. The two rivals ran shoulder-to-shoulder for the first two miles. Cox then kicked. Keim tried, but couldn’t.

All Cox had to do from that point was chase down the finish line. She did so in 14 minutes 44 seconds, 30 seconds ahead of Keim.

“I wasn’t sure if I could win,” Cox said. “This whole season I’ve been trying to beat her, and each time I’ve gotten a little closer.”

None of the eight finishes was close, but there were several outstanding performances.

Mebrahtom Keflezighi of San Diego High ran the fastest time of the day over the boys’ 3.02-mile course. He placed first in Division I in 15:34. Milena Glusac had the girls’ top mark. She set the pace in Division I, crossing at 14:19 for her fourth section title.

Glusac appeared almost unimpressed with her string of championships.

“When I was a freshman,” she said, “I was inexperienced. I still am, I think . . . I know I am. . . . I’ve only been running for four years, which isn’t really that long. There are still a lot of things I need to learn to do better.”

The day’s most anticipated race, boys’ Division II, pitted San Pasqual senior Nazario Romero against Mission Bay junior Devin Elizondo. Both runners dominated the different invitationals they ran this season but never faced each other. When they finally did on Saturday, Romero proved stronger, coming in at 15:37 to Elizondo’s 15:53.

Hilltop sophomore Ruben Carrillo put forth a surprising effort, staying close to Romero and Elizondo the whole way before finishing third in 16:01.

But the best race was the duel between Cox and Keim.

“To Melissa, I guess it was an upset,” Cox said. “She was expected to win.”

Keim had won her division as a sophomore and a junior, but this time there was not only Cox to contend with, but also some sort of flu bug.

“There’s something in my body right now,” she said, “and I’m just not myself. But I can’t take anything away from (Cox).”

The boys’ Division II race followed a similar pattern. Romero, Elizondo and Carrillo all stayed close until a half-mile remained and Romero decided to make his move. Neither Elizondo nor Carrillo could match Romero’s kick.

Romero wasn’t too complimentary to his foes.

“This race was slow for me,” he said. “I wasn’t tired at all--it was like my practice pace.”

Because the pace lagged, Romero feared that Elizondo was reserving his energy for a final surge.

“I started so slow,” Romero said, “I thought Elizondo was going to beat me, and when I pushed the pace I thought he’d follow me. But he must have been tired.”

Of the three contestants, the sophomore appeared happiest about the outcome.

“I didn’t know I could run with those guys,” Carrillo said. “I just wanted to use it as an experience to see what I could do.”