Competitors Turn Up Heat at Woodbridge Invitational

If the heat wasn’t tough enough to beat Saturday at the Woodbridge Invitational, the competition made it even tougher.

Several of the state’s top high school cross-country runners joined most of the county’s best on the speedy three-mile course around the Woodbridge High campus. The result was some top-notch performances, despite temperatures that reached 90 degrees by mid-morning.

“It’s not the hottest it has ever been,” said Woodbridge Coach George Varvas, who has hosted the meet for 20 years. “But it’s the hottest it has been in the last eight years, at least.”

As usually seems to be the case, it was the elite runners who appeared least affected by the heat.

Anita Siraki of Glendale Hoover, the defending state and Southern Section Division I champion, ran the second-fastest time in the history of the meet. Siraki won the Division II varsity race in 16 minutes 44 seconds, which was 14 seconds off the course record set by Canyon Country Canyon’s Lauren Fleshman in 1998.

Newport Harbor’s Amber Steen, who had the fastest girls’ time at last weekend’s Laguna Hills Invitational, finished second--56 seconds behind Siraki--in the top time among county competitors.

The top boys’ performance came from Big Bear’s Ryan Hall, the defending state champion in the 3,200 meters. Hall ran the fastest time at the meet for the second consecutive year, winning the Division IV senior race in 15:04. Only Agoura’s Ryan Wilson has matched that feat.

North Hollywood’s Natalie Stein won the Division I varsity race in 17:17. Stein was runner-up in the City Section final last season and placed eighth in the 3,200 meters at the state track and field championships last spring.

Stein’s closet pursuer from Orange County was Mater Dei’s Jenny Sears, who finished fourth in 18:10. Palos Verdes Peninsula, a favorite to win the Southern Section Division I team title, finished first, Murrieta Valley was second and Esperanza third.

Varvas predicted the Warriors’ Michael Haddan would break the freshman course record of 15:51, which was established by Lakewood’s T.J. Reyes in 1988. He was right, but Babey Wagnew of San Diego Helix broke the record by more than Haddan did.

Wagnew’s victories this year include the youth boys’ 3,000 meters at the AAU National Junior Olympics in August (9:22.83) and the youth boys’ mile at the San Diego Indoor Games last January (4:50.7).

Haddan went out hard but couldn’t sustain his kick and finished second in 15:32, two seconds behind Wagnew. His time was third-fastest among county runners.

“He went out a little faster than he needed to,” Varvas said. “But this was a great race for him.”

Edison, which competes in Southern Section Division I, was placed in Division III due to a late entry into the meet, and Scott Brandos took advantage, winning the senior race in 15:24. His time equaled that of Santa Margarita’s Steven Murray for the fastest among county runners, but was only 11th-best overall.

Murray finished second to Norwalk’s Puneet Mahan in the Division II senior race. Newport Harbor’s Chris McMillen was third in 15:49 and Tustin’s Alonso Smith was fifth in 15:50.

Long Beach Poly’s Ozzie Pina, the defending Southern Section Division I champion, won the Division I senior race in 15:06. Pina, who had the top time at the Laguna Hills Invitational, held off Chino Don Lugo’s Arturo Garcia by one second. El Toro’s Ricky Rehanek finished seventh in 15:33.

Woodbridge won the girls’ varsity team title in Division II, placing four runners in the top 30. Foothill coasted to the girls’ team title in Division III with four runners in the top 21.