Escobar Is Close 3rd in 3,200 Meters

Ventura’s Josh Spiker figured the best way to slow Villa Park junior Augie Escobar was at the beginning of the 3,200 meters, rather than wait until the end.

Spiker’s strategy paid off as he surged past Escobar and San Diego Serra’s Marcus Chandler in the final 20 meters Saturday to win the highly anticipated race at the state track and field finals at Hughes Stadium. Spiker crossed the line in 9 minutes 2.00 seconds, just ahead of Chandler (9:02.22) and Escobar (9:02.49).

Spiker ran the first mile in 4:29, which was well off the pace he set last week at the Southern Section Masters meet, when Escobar outkicked Spiker to post the top time in the nation this season. Spiker and Escobar each broke nine minutes in the race, becoming the first Southern Section runners since 1991 to do so.

“I knew the race was slow from the mile,” Escobar said. “I was like, ‘All right, this is going to be a kicker’s race,’ because everyone started slowing down.”

Spiker had a slight lead as he completed five laps in 5:38.4, but then settled back and let Chandler and Escobar move ahead.

“We were going to try and do a 4:20 [mile] and see what happens,” Spiker said. “But I just decided to stay in the pack for the first couple laps and see what happened.”

Escobar led going into the final straightaway, but Chandler made a move and appeared to have the edge on the kick. But Spiker made up 10 meters in the final straight and caught both just before the finish line.

“I thought it was going to be just me and Chandler, but Spiker is just the man. He came out of nowhere,” said Escobar, who also outkicked Spiker to win the Division II title two weeks ago. “I was trying to kick and I was pushing it, but I guess today was not my day.”

Another top result belonged to Esperanza junior Travis Pendleton, who finished third in the discus (183 feet 4 inches) behind Dan Ames of El Capitan (199-9) and Luke Mackay of Hughson (199-7).

“Today was really enjoyable, I had a lot of fun,” Pendleton said. “Yesterday was way too much pressure. I didn’t throw very well, I don’t think most of us did. But today, most of us were able to relax and cut loose.” Katella’s Antonio Lozano had the county’s other top finish, placing third in the 800 (1:56.19).

Huntington Beach senior Sam Lightbody finished fifth in the discus (179-3) and sixth in the shotput (58-5 3/4). Teammate Jeff Ryan missed all three attempts at 15-2 in the pole vault and finished eighth. Ryan had cleared 15-4 in qualifying and went as high as 15-8 this season.

“One little thing is off and the whole vault is off,” Ryan said. “I felt good warming up. I felt really good. My first couple vaults were really powerful.”

Brandon Braunstein of Newark Memorial in the North Coast Section won the event after clearing 16-2 on his first attempt. Braunstein was runner-up in the event last season.

In addition to Pendleton, Esperanza scored in the 1,600 with junior Ryan Bousquet placing sixth (4:17.47).

“Today was a dream come true almost,” Bousquet said. “Running with the big guys is a great feeling, knowing you’re with them now.”

Bousquet has to like his chances next season, as four of the five runners ahead of him will be graduating.

“You never know who’s going to pop out,” Bousquet said. “Last year I finished last in the division finals, and that’s as far as I went and now I went to state this year.”

Other results included Kennedy senior Ahmad Wright finishing eighth in the 110 hurdles (14.36), Newport Harbor junior Trevor Jones placing seventh in the 300 hurdles (37.64) and Newport Harbor’s Curt Herberts finishing seventh in the 3,200 (9:13.88).