Race of the year, part II: Jauregui vs. Totten

Watching the conclusion of Thursday's boys' varsity race at the Foothill League championship meet at Castaic Lake evoked memories of the Oct. 11 showdown at the Clovis Invitational between Foothill of Bakersfield's Chris Schwartz, Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta's Zack Torres and Buchanan of Clovis' Jonathan Sanchez, as all three runners made a mad dash to the finish to end up separated by a second in the boys' sweepstakes race.

With 400 meters to go it appeared to be Brandon Jauregui's race to lose, but that was before the Saugus senior nearly turned into the middle strip of the parking lot, instead of the home stretch, almost costing him the victory.

Golden Valley's Seth Totten, who nearly collided as he made the turn with Brianna Jauregui -- Brandon's twin -- as she cheered on her brother, never backed down and caught up with Jauregui with less than 50 meters to go, before they battled stride for stride to the finish.

Although it was too close to call with the naked eye, Jauregui's time was 15:21.17 to Totten's 15:21.51 in a race no one deserved to lose.

"He ran the best race he's run all year, give him credit," Totten said. "I don't think I could've run any faster. If he beat me, it was by a half-step, if that. I thought about the dive, but I've got more races ahead of me. If it were (grass or dirt instead of concrete), I would've done it in a second."

Jauregui said afterward he felt like most of the race was a blur, but did acknowledge his near mishap at the end almost cost him a title in the final league race of his career.

"I still don't even know what happened," Jauregui said. "I did think I (cost) myself coming off that hill. To tell you the truth, I don't know where that (kick) came from."

When Totten pulled even with Jauregui, who sat out workouts Tuesday and Wednesday to rest a sore ankle, the Saugus senior dug down deep to produce one of the more memorable stretch runs of his career.

"Most guys wouldn't be able to do that," Saugus coach Rene Paragas said. "I don't know how you find it in you with 40 meters to go to be able to kick again like that. That was just incredible."

Jauregui's victory produced a 21-second PR at Castaic. Along with the support of Alec Nelson (third, 15:42), Joey Eledge (seventh, 16:17), Kevin Heinemann (11th, 16:37) and Logan Smith (12th, 16:39), the Centurions won their third straight title with 34 points.

As for Totten, who was the catalyst for Golden Valley qualifying for the Div. III prelims, he says he'll use Thursday's outcome for inspiration throughout the postseason.

"It just motivates me to work even harder," Totten said.