One of Eight Is Enough for Siraki, Stein at Mt. SAC

WALNUT —  It’s not easy running to qualify when you’re used to running to win.

Senior Anita Siraki of Hoover High discovered that Saturday when she finished second in the West region cross-country championships at Mt. San Antonio College.

Siraki, a senior, established herself as a co-favorite for this year’s national title by setting a slew of course records. But her only goal in the regional was to grab one of eight qualifying spots for next Saturday’s national championships in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Natalie Stein of North Hollywood also qualified, finishing eighth.

Siraki wanted to conserve as much energy as possible for the national final, but it was hard to put her competitive nature aside when senior Alicia Craig of Campbell County (Wyo.) opened up a small lead shortly after the two-mile mark of the 5,000-meter race.

“I had to save it [for the final],” Siraki said. “There was no point in trying to win.”

Craig, the other co-favorite for the national title, won her second consecutive West region championship with a 17:36 clocking over a course that was lengthened from Mt. SAC’s traditional 2.95-mile distance because a sewer line broke near the starting line.

Siraki finished second in 17:51 and senior Sara Bei of Santa Rosa Montgomery was third in 17:56.

Stein of North Hollywood finished in 18:21 to become the second girl from the City Section to qualify for the national championships since the meet began in 1979.

Freshman Lindsey Owen of Nordhoff was 18th in 18:46 and senior Laura Jakosky of Agoura finished 25th in 19:07.

Senior Mark Nevers of Oak Park placed 11th in 15:51 in the boys’ race with one of the best performances of his career, while senior Tom Kubler of Viewpoint finished 30th in 16:16.