Etiwanda’s Poe Wins West Region Boys’ Title

Senior Michael Poe of Etiwanda is usually not real demonstrative when it comes to winning, but his emotions got the best of him Saturday at the end of the seeded boys’ race in the West region cross-country championships at Mt. San Antonio College.

With a few strides left in the 5,000-meter race, and a win firmly in place, Poe raised both his arms skyward and flashed the victory sign.

Poe pumped his arms until he crossed the finish line on the Mt. SAC track in 15 minutes 34 seconds, four seconds ahead of runner-up Steve Sheperd of Weber High in North Ogden, Utah.

The top eight finishers in the seeded boys’ and girls’ races qualified for the national championships at Morley Field in San Diego next Saturday.

“I can’t believe I won because I don’t think I was really expected to even finish in the top eight,” said Poe, the Southern Section and state Division I champion. “But I just went in with the attitude that I could beat anybody.”

Junior Mohamed Trafeh of Duarte was the only other runner from the Southland to advance to the national championships, finishing eighth in 15:49.

Senior Alison Costello of Anaheim Esperanza finished 17th in 18:57 in the girls’ race for the highest finish by a runner from the Southland.

Junior Liza Pasciuto of Murrieta Valley placed 21st in 19:00 after coming through the mile in fifth place.

-- John Ortega