HIGH SCHOOL CROSS-COUNTRY : Showdown a Bust in Regional

A race that was billed as a showdown between undefeated seniors Margarito Casillas of Hoover High and Ryan Wilson of Agoura ended in bitter disappointment for both in the Kinney West regional cross-country championships at Woodward Park on Saturday.

Casillas, the defending West regional champion, finished 48th in 16 minutes 2 seconds over the 5,000-meter course, 59 seconds slower than he ran last week to win the state Division I title.

Wilson, third in last year’s West regional, failed to finish after winning the state Division II title.

Agoura sophomore Amy Skieresz and Nordhoff senior Karen Bockel were second and seventh, respectively, in the girls’ race.

The top eight in each of the boys’ and girls’ races advanced to next week’s nationals at San Diego.

Hoover Coach Greg Switzer said hype surrounding the first meeting of the season between Casillas and Wilson might have caused both to “fold up like a house of cards in a windstorm,” but Casillas disagreed.

“I felt good at two miles,” said Casillas, who was fifth at that point and moved to fourth shortly thereafter. “But my legs just locked up in the last 800. I felt like I was walking. There was nothing I could do about it.”

Said Wilson, who was among the top 10 runners at the mile mark: “There is no reason for me not to finish this race.”

Theo and Tim Martin, senior twins from Page (Ariz.) High finished first (14:57) and second (15:00), respectively.

Skieresz was second (17:27) to Fallbrook senior Milena Glusac (17:11), who won her second consecutive girls title.