Astete Stomachs Pain, Wins Title

Fortified by a new attitude she adopted three days earlier, Melissa Astete became Birmingham High’s first girls’ league cross-country champion since 1993 on Thursday.

Astete, a junior, completed the hilly three-mile Pierce College course in 19:20 to win the West Valley League title, 28 seconds ahead of senior Isaura Rodriguez of Taft.

Astete took the lead in the second mile and held on to avenge a loss to Rodriguez in a meet last week.

Astete, two-time defending City Section pole vault champion, has been hampered by stomach cramps while racing the last two years.

“I learned to ignore the pain,” Astete said. “I just ran through it. It was very difficult.”

Birmingham won the team title with 37 points, with El Camino Real second with 62.

Taft won the boys’ championship when its sixth runner, Louis Stutte placed 19 seconds ahead of his Birmingham counterpart, Damain Whiteman, after both teams finished with 32 points.

In other league finals held Thursday at Pierce, 1997 City champion Natalie Stein led North Hollywood to the Sunset Six girls’ title, winning in 17:56.

Verdugo Hills put three runners in the top eight to win the Sunset Six boys’ championship and senior Alejandro Becerra of Canoga Park won the individual title in 16:45.

Senior Germain Ortiz led Monroe to a 1-2-3 finish and the boys’ title in the Valley Mission League meet while Kennedy won the girls’ title with sophomore Monica Modi placing first in 20:23.