CLOSE-UP : Esparza’s Win at Agoura Makes Him a Favorite

Fifteen minutes and 52 seconds. That’s how long it took Mike Esparza of Newbury Park to establish himself as a favorite for the Marmonte League cross-country title this month.

Esparza won the large schools division of the Agoura Invitational at Paramount Ranch on Saturday against a good field on the three-mile course.

Newbury Park Coach Mike Stewart said Esparza ran a smart, tactical race. “In previous meets, Mike had a tendency to hold back too much at the start,” he said. “He’d lose contact with the leaders early and then was unable to make up the distance later.”

Esparza went out with the lead pack, which included Doug Fairman and John Rogers of Thousand Oaks, Thomas Scott of Buena and Jose Haro of Alemany. Shortly after the two-mile mark, Esparza surged into the lead on an incline.

Fairman finished second, 21 seconds behind.