Thousand Oaks Flashes Past Royal in Track

Thousand Oaks High has one of the finest traditions in boys cross-country in the Southern Section, but its track program has been unsuccessful in comparison. While the Lancers’ cross-country teams have won two of the past three Southern Section 4-A titles and three since 1980, the track team has toiled in vain as Simi Valley dominated Marmonte League track and field during the 1980s.

The key ingredient previous Thousand Oaks teams lacked was a top sprinter. They lack no longer.

Thursday, Darren Bernard won all three sprints and anchored the victorious 440-yard relay team as Thousand Oaks defeated visiting Royal, 76-51, in a Marmonte League meet.

Bernard clocked 11.0 in the 100 meters, 22.5 for 220 yards and 49.4 for 440 yards. The Thousand Oaks 440-relay team clocked 44.1.

Powered by Bernard, Thousand Oaks won 10 of 15 events, including nine of the 10 track events.

Royal (3-2) could have thrown the league race into a three-way tie for first with a win, but the Highlanders’ hopes vanished when Ralph Blanks failed to place in the 440. Blanks, who ran 48.55 for 400 meters at Saturday’s Alemany/Northridge relays, had his left leg heavily taped and ran with a noticeable limp.

Bernard, who is recovering from a strained right hamstring, wasn’t completely healthy, either, but was able to compete effectively.

“The leg doesn’t really hurt anymore,” he said afterward. “It’s more mental than anything else. I just have to get my confidence back. I’m still a little tentative coming out of the blocks.”

Although Bernard was the individual star Thursday, the Lancers received a number of noteworthy performances.

Doug Fairman, the defending Ventura County and Marmonte League champion at 800 meters, won the 880 with a season-best of 1:59.9.

Paul McCarter led a Lancers sweep in the mile with a 4:34.5 clocking, and John Rogers did likewise in the two-mile (10:01.7).

In the girls meet, Staci Leach and Sharon Manship each won three events and Thousand Oaks (5-0) defeated Royal, 77-36.

Leach won the 100 meters (12.5), the 220-yard dash (26.3) and the 100-meter low hurdles (14.1).

Manship won the 330-yard low hurdles (45.5), the high jump (5-2) and the triple jump (36-9 1/2).

Manship and Leach also ran the third and fourth legs on the victorious Thousand Oaks 440 relay (51.6).