Escobar, Mejia Gain Nationals

Seniors Augie Escobar of Villa Park High and Daniel Mejia of Katella got what they came for in the West Region cross-country championships at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday.

Escobar and Mejia entered the meet looking for a top-eight finish and a berth in the national championships at Oak Trail Course at Shades of Green in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., next Saturday.

They attained their goals when Escobar finished fourth with a time of 16:01 over the 5,000-meter course and Mejia was fifth in 16:02. It is the first time since 1992 that two boys from Orange County advanced to the national championships.

Josh Rohatinsky of Provo, Utah, placed first in 15:37 to become the first boy to win consecutive West Region titles since the meet began in 1979.

No other county runner finished among the top 50. Junior Ryan Bousquet of Esperanza, third in the state Division I final, got out well, but finished back in the pack.

Sophomore Julie Allen of Fountain Valley finished 18th in the girls’ race after being among the top eight runners during the first 1 1/2 miles. Allen, runner-up in the state Division I final, ran 19:19.

Sophomore Jennifer Sears of Mater Dei was 36th in 19:45 and junior Amber Steen of Newport Harbor was 41st in 19:51.

Alicia Craig, a junior from Campbell County (Wyo.), placed first in 18:07.