Thousand Oaks, Agoura Set the Pace

MOORPARK —  One dynasty has a good chance of becoming 4 years old at the state cross-country championships later this month while another dynasty could be in the making.

That was the prevailing impression after the Thousand Oaks High boys and the Agoura girls dominated in Thursday’s Marmonte League cross-country finals at Moorpark College.

Thousand Oaks, led by individual champion Brandon Del Campo, placed six runners among the top nine finishers to total 25 points while winning its second consecutive league title.

Agoura, paced by runner-up John Greene, finished second with 66 points, followed by Camarillo (79), Newbury Park (102) and Channel Islands (127).

In the girls’ race, Agoura used a 1-2-3 finish to total 33 points and post its fourth consecutive league championship.

The three-time defending state Division I champions were followed by Thousand Oaks (57), Simi Valley (90), Westlake (110) and Royal (111).

“Our team is starting to come around again,” Del Campo said. “I think (the Mt. SAC Invitational) woke us up. Even though we won there, I remember looking around in the (finish) chute after the race and not seeing too many green-and-white jerseys close behind me. I know I was a little concerned.”

Lack of a tight-knit group was not a problem for the Lancers on Thursday. There was only a 47-second difference between Del Campo--who ran 15 minutes over the three-mile course--and No. 5 runner Chadd Aldrich, who finished eighth.

Juniors Jeff Fischer (third in 15:11) and Kevin Marsden (sixth in 15:39) and sophomore Todd Disney (seventh in 15:44) were packed in between seniors Del Campo and Aldrich.

Add junior Keith O’Doherty (ninth in 16:00) and sophomore Josh Carolan (13th in 16:24) to that mix and Coach Jack Farrell has the makings of a team that not only will be favored to win the state Division I title on Nov. 27, but could be equally potent next year.

“(Carolan) took it to another level today,” Farrell said. “Now (our top seven) is really getting tight.”

The Agoura girls cannot match the closeness of Thousand Oaks, but with Cathy Prater improving rapidly, the Chargers might have the state’s top trio.

Heretofore known as an outstanding 300-meter hurdler, Prater timed 18:46 over the three-mile course to place third behind teammates Amy Skieresz (17:51) and Kay Nekota (17:59).

It was the second consecutive league title for Skieresz, who also won her second Ventura County championship in a row Monday.