Hoover’s Siraki Has Winner’s Look--Sort Of

The look of disbelief when Anita Siraki saw the digital clock at the finish line, and the clapping of her hands above her head when her time was announced, were evidence that Hoover High junior had done something extraordinary in the Southern Section cross-country finals at Mt. San Antonio College.

On a cool, overcast Saturday when Nordhoff won its fourth consecutive Division IV boys’ title, and Flintridge Prep and Viewpoint’s Tom Kubler won their first Division V boys’ championships, Siraki won the Division I girls’ race in 16:58 over the hilly 2.95-mile course.

Siraki’s time cut 25 seconds from her previous best and made her the third girl to break 17 minutes at Mt. SAC.

The others were Julia Stamps of Santa Rosa, who ran 16:55 in 1995 and 16:58 in 1994, and Kristen Gordon of Concord Carondelet, who timed 16:57 in 1996.

Both won national titles.

“I was hoping to run faster than my previous best,” Siraki said. “But breaking 17. . . was never contemplated.”

Sophomore Julie Allen of Fountain Valley led the field through the mile in 5:17, but Siraki had a 10-yard lead over senior Latesha Jones of Rialto at the base of aptly named “Poop-out Hill” just before two miles.

It was a race against the clock after that, as Siraki beat Jones by 20 seconds and Allen by 43.

“I had no idea I was running that fast,” Siraki said. “My coach told me I was at 14:32 when we turned onto the airstrip, but I didn’t really know what that meant.”

Nordhoff defeated Oak Park, 70-89, to win the Division IV boys’ title and its eighth Division III or IV title of the decade.

Oak Park beat Nordhoff twice earlier this season, but the Rangers put five runners ahead of Oak Park’s No. 4 runner on Saturday.

Oak Park was hurt when sophomore Taylor Hermes, its No. 5 runner, dropped out of the race after aggravating a hamstring injury.

“I feel real bad for them,” Coach Ken Reeves of Nordhoff said. “Because they worked real hard this year to get to where they’re at.”

Junior Roberto Contreras of Nordhoff finished fifth in 15:45, with senior Aiden Short 15th in 16:11 and senior Kent Krumpschmidt 21st in 16:28 for the two-time defending state champion.

Junior Mark Nevers of Oaks Park was second in 15:30 and sophomore teammate Chase Ferrell was ninth in 15:56.

Kubler, a junior, won the Division V boys’ title in 15:20, the fastest time of the day by a runner from the region.

Flintridge Prep defeated Downey Calvary Chapel, 65-100, for the Division V team title.

Defending champion Laura Jakosky of Agoura ran a career best of 17:51 in the Division II girls’ race, but she was edged at the finish by fellow junior Amber Steen of Newport Harbor.

Corona del Mar defeated Nordhoff, 23-56, for the Division IV girls’ title.

South Hills beat defending champion La Canada, 48-57, for the Division III girls’ championship, with defending champion Nicole Bonino of La Canada second in 18:43.

Senior Jason Lanning of Buena ran a career best of 15:22 to place sixth in the Division I boys’ race.

The top six teams in the Division I races and the top four in divisions II through V advanced to the state championships in Fresno on Nov. 27. So did the top five individuals among the top 20 finishers, but not on a qualifying team.