ORANGE - After scouting her competition, Foothill senior Sierra Vega decided that her best strategy for the Sea View League Finals on Friday would be to push the pace from the beginning and not allow the outcome to depend on a sprint to the finish.

Her decision proved to be a victorious one.

Vega claimed her second consecutive individual league title Friday afternoon at Irvine Regional Park.

“I went out and pushed it to try and get any gap that I could, and it worked,” said Vega. “I was able to put out a solid race, and I’m glad that it turned out the way it did."

After taking a small lead at the one-mile mark, Vega extended her advantage over the final two miles, crossing the finish line in a time of 16:50.

Woodbridge sophomore Nicole “Coco” Evans (17:12) was second, and Trabuco Hills senior Makenna Smith (17:14) placed third.

The team competition was won by Trabuco Hills (29 points), which had five runners finish in the top nine.

“We were looking to get five girls to run collectively as a team, and I think we accomplished that today,” said Mustangs coach Dennis Kelly. “That effort is what it will take to succeed at CIF.”

Also earning automatic team berths into next week’s CIF preliminaries were second-place Foothill (38 points) and third-place Northwood (98 points).

In the boys final, Trabuco Hills junior Jantzen Oshier continued his fine season, seizing control early and pushing the lead throughout. He won in a time of 14:28.

“I never really expected this to happen, and I’m excited by how things are going for me,” said Oshier.

His teammate, junior Brent Ritschel (14:40), and Foothill junior Nathaniel Cushing-Murray (14:41) rounded out the top three finishers.

With Oshier and Ritschel leading the way, the Mustangs (36 points) claimed the team title. Their five scoring runners all finished in the top 11.

“I’m encouraged by what I saw today,” said Mustangs coach Liam Clemons. “We’ve had a long climb back up to getting healthy and we’re getting close.”

El Toro (44 points) and Foothill (56 points) finished second and third respectively in the team competition and earned CIF preliminary berths.