Camarillo and Agoura Continue Run on Titles

Little has changed since the Camarillo High boys’ cross-country team and Agoura High girls’ team won titles in the Ventura County championships in 1987.

Both teams repeated last year, and both won a third consecutive title in the meet held Saturday at Moorpark College.

There were other constants too. Bryan Dameworth and Deena Drossin, both of Agoura, mirrored their performances of the past two years in winning individual titles.

Camarillo placed all five of its scorers among the top 12 to total 35 points, well ahead of runner-up Agoura (73) and third-place Westlake (132).

“Agoura High School looked sensational,” Camarillo Coach Mike Smith said. “They were right in our uniforms.”

Dameworth recorded a personal best on the three-mile course of 14 minutes, 56 seconds to win by 220 meters over Ventura’s Roman Morales (15:39).

Drossin (18:00) pulled away from Jeanine Rothman of Westlake at the 1 3/4-mile mark to claim her championship by 120 meters. Rothman clocked 18:27 for second place.

In the girls’ team race Agoura, the state’s top-ranked team, held on to edge Buena, 46-54.

The Chargers placed three runners among the top 15, including three in the top 10. Buena, ranked second in the Southern Section 4-A Division, placed its five scorers among the top 16.

“I knew it would be close,” Agoura Coach Bill Duley said. “At the Fountain Valley (Invitational) two weeks ago, I figured them into our race and us into their race and we beat them by four points (on paper).”

Dameworth had said that he was pleased with the way he ran the third mile last week in the prestigious Mt. San Antonio College Invitational, which he won in 14:41.8. Despite struggling slightly through the wind and the final mile Saturday, the Charger senior still managed to eclipse his best on the Moorpark course by 16 seconds.

“I think I lost it in the last mile,” he said. I was just sort of doggin’ it. I didn’t feel like fighting the wind.”

Drossin, however, decided that a slower start would be more advantageous than pushing an early pace.

“At Mt. SAC last weekend, I went out way too fast,” the junior said. “I was really trying to keep my pace slow that first half (mile).”