Agoura Boys Close Fast to Hold Off Thousand Oaks in Marmonte Meet

In a meet featuring two of the top high school distance running programs in the nation, it was fitting that the outcome of Thursday’s Marmonte League track and field opener among Agoura, Simi Valley and host Thousand Oaks came down to the last three events, beginning with the boys’ two-mile run.

Thousand Oaks, the runner-up in the 1992 state Division I cross-country championships, and Agoura, the Division II runner-up, had 59 points each at that juncture. But senior Ryan Wilson and sophomore John Greene finished first and second for Agoura in the two-mile, and junior Damon Blechen led a 1-3-4 Charger finish in the discus to seal the victory.

Agoura, the defending league champion, totaled 78 points, followed by Thousand Oaks with 70 and Simi Valley with 22.

The Chargers, led by triple winners Amy Skieresz and Cathy Prater, won the girls’ meet with 83 1/2 points. Thousand Oaks placed second with 60 1/2, followed by Simi Valley with 15.

“The two-mile was a huge event for us,” said Wilson, who also won the mile (4 minutes 28.4 seconds) and the 880 (2:00.1). “None of us were fresh and we knew that (Jeff Fisher of Thousand Oaks) had not raced yet, so finishing one-two was a big boost. John did a great job for us.”

Fisher, the Lancers’ top cross-country runner, forced the early pace in an attempt to distance himself from Greene, but after a 4:50 first mile, Wilson and Greene still ran doggedly at his shoulder.

Wilson surged into the lead with a half-mile remaining, and Greene passed Fisher with 330 yards to go. Wilson timed 9:38.7, followed by Greene (9:43.8), Fisher (9:45.4) and Thousand Oaks junior Brandon Del Campo (9:51.7).

With the top four in each individual event scoring points on a 5-3-2-1 basis, Agoura had an 8-3 advantage over Thousand Oaks in that event and the Chargers duplicated that point total in the discus before finishing second behind Thousand Oaks in the mile relay.

“I had us losing by eight points coming into this meet,” Agoura Coach Bill Duley said. “But we got some unexpected performances from some of our kids and Simi Valley also helped us out.”

The 120-yard high hurdles was a good example as the Pioneers’ Greg Seth-Hunter upset defending league champion Marc Musitano of Thousand Oaks, 15.5 to 15.8.

“It seemed like every time Simi Valley did something big, it hurt us more than it hurt them,” Thousand Oaks boys’ Coach Jack Farrell said.

Agoura dominated the individual track events--winning every race from the 100 meters through the two-mile--and scored eight of a possible 11 points in both the shotput and discus.

Thousand Oaks countered with victories in the 330-yard intermediate hurdles, long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault, but it wasn’t enough.

Thousand Oaks senior Marion Jones and sophomore Skieresz stood out in the girls’ meet.

Jones, the three-time defending state champion in the girls’ 100 and 200 meters, won the 100 in 11.5 and the 220-yard dash in 24.5 in her season debut. She also anchored the Lancers’ victorious 440-yard relay team (51.4).

Skieresz timed 2:20.9 in the 880, 5:16.2 in the mile and 11:25.4 in the two-mile.