Skieresz, Aparicio Ailing, Miss Southern Section Meet

Amy Skieresz of Agoura High, who has mononucleosis, and Maribella Aparicio of Fillmore, who has a stress fracture, did not run in the Masters Meet at Cerritos College on Friday.

Skieresz, who won Division I titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters in the Southern Section championships last Saturday, was scheduled to run in the 1,600, but her condition was diagnosed as mononucleosis on Thursday.

“She hadn’t been feeling very strong the last couple of weeks, but I just thought it was a case of this being the end of a long season,” Agoura Coach Bill Duley said. “I had no idea it was this serious.”

Skieresz, a sophomore, placed third in the 1,600 in last year’s state championships and was expected to contend for the state title in that event this season. She had run a personal best of 4 minutes 53.97 seconds--the second fastest time in the state--to win the Ventura County championships four weeks ago, and Duley figured she was capable of running much faster.

“I really thought she was ready to run 4:45 this year,” Duley said. “Hopefully, this will make her feel like something was left unfinished this year and she can come back strong next year.”

Aparicio, who will attend Brigham Young, won the Division IV title in the 3,200 last week and was second in the state meet last year.