Old Mates Duel for a 1-A Division Title

Twelve years ago, Bill Duley and Kevin Smith were teammates on the Agoura High track team. But they will be opposing coaches today at the Southern Section track and field championships, which begin at 11 a.m. at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

Duley has produced one of the top cross-country programs in the Valley area at his alma mater--the Charger girls won the 1987 Southern Section 2-A Division title and the boys placed second--and is looking for his first Southern Section track title.

Smith has migrated a few miles north on Kanan Dume Road to Oak Park High, where the Eagles’ track program has soared under his leadership, placing third in the 1-A Division last year.

“The Southern Section championships are always a big meet,” Smith said. “But they might be bigger this year because it’s us and Agoura.”

Smith has doped out the boys’ division several times and each time Oak Park wins--but only by a few points.

Agoura should romp to the team title in the girls’ 1-A meet behind distance runner Deena Drossin, sprinter-hurdler Julie Tingle and shotputter Jenny Whelchel, the defending state champion.

Other top Valley-area performers at the meet will include Angela Burnham of Rio Mesa in the sprints and Tom Parker of Notre Dame in the pole vault.

Burnham has the state’s best time in the 100 (11.65) and is the national leader in the 200 (23.94).