CROSS-COUNTRY SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS : Hart, Agoura Attempt to Extend Title Streaks

Ninety-six Southern Section cross-country teams will convene today for the Southern Section championships at Mt. San Antonio College. Twenty-three teams--12 boys’ and 11 girls’--are from the Valley area. The girls’ Division I race at 8 a.m. will open the event.

Division I: The Hart boys will attempt to win their third consecutive section title and the Agoura girls will bid for their fifth championship in a row. The section championship, however, is just another rung in the ladder both teams must climb to be able to defend their state Division I titles.

Hart, although it has no standout individuals, will rely on a formidable top seven. Hart runners finished the three-mile course within a 35-second span in the preliminaries last week.

Hoover junior Margarito Casillas is a favorite for the individual boys’ title by virtue of a 15-minute, 11.8-second performance in the prelims.

The top four teams, along with the top five individuals not on a qualifying team, in each division will advance to the state meet Nov. 30 in Fresno.

The Agoura girls boast a talented top three in Kay Nekota, Laura Hayward and Amy Skieresz, who posted three of the top five times in the prelims.

Division II: Agoura Coach Bill Duley figured in September that the Charger boys might not advance past Marmonte League competition. The forecast was a bit premature. Agoura has landed in the section final for the fifth year in a row but will be hard-pressed to defend its title against Claremont, which finished one point behind Agoura in the prelims.

Agoura junior Ryan Wilson won in 15:31.7 last week and is a favorite for individual honors.

Defending their section title might be out of the question for the Westlake girls, but qualifying for the state meet is within reach.

Although Edison is heavily favored for the team championship, Westlake will contend with Ventura, Claremont and Irvine Woodbridge for a trip to Fresno.

Division III: Newbury Park’s Jeff Wilson, the top-ranked high school runner in the nation, likely will waltz away with the individual title today and with his second consecutive state title next week.

The Panther boys are expected to advance to the state meet but will be challenged by top-ranked Laguna Hills and defending state champion San Marino.

Division IV: The Nordhoff boys’ and Fillmore girls’ teams are ranked No. 1 in the state; last year, the Fillmore boys and Nordhoff girls won state titles.

The Nordhoff boys will be tested by Bell-Jeff and Oak Park, the Nos. 2- and 3-ranked teams in the state, as well as defending section titlist Maranatha.

Fillmore junior Maribella Aparicio posted the fastest time in all divisions (17:41.7) in the prelims and is expected to win the individual championship.