Sutton Sets 9th Straight Record at Moorpark College

Melissa Sutton of Newbury Park High set her ninth consecutive course record, and Thousand Oaks won two team titles at the 10th Ventura County Cross-Country Championships at Moorpark College on Friday.

Sutton, the two-time defending Southern Section 4-A champion, dominated the girls race, leading from start to finish. She was never seriously challenged after running the opening mile in 5:20. Her 17:26.5 effort over the rugged three-mile course beat defending Ventura County champion Christy Farrell (18:01) of Thousand Oaks by 34 seconds.

Sutton’s effort broke the previous course record of 18:02 set by Newbury Park’s Denise Ball in 1981.

Thousand Oaks, led by Farrell and Jena Haggenmiller (fifth in 18:46), won its first girls Ventura County team title. The Lancers (61 points) were followed by Buena (71), Newbury Park (72) and Westlake (84).

Paul McCarter (15:48) and John Rogers (15:51) finished fourth and fifth in the boys race to lead Thousand Oaks to the team title. The Lancers placed four runners in the top 11 for a 43-point total. Buena (85) finished second and Agoura (94) finished third.

Hueneme’s Tony Williams won in 15:20.7. Freshman Bryan Dameworth (second in 15:29) and Matthew Thomson (third in 15:39) led Agoura.