Thousand Oaks Boys Ranked 2nd in Final Cross-Country Poll

The Thousand Oaks High boys’ cross-country team, which won its second consecutive State Division I title last month, is ranked second in The Harrier magazine’s final national poll.

The Lancers, under Coach Jack Farrell, might have performed better than any team in the country at the end of the season, but a 37-44 loss to No. 1-ranked Kingwood (Tex.) in the Southwestern University Invitational on Oct. 1 prevented them from winning the mythical national title.

The Lancers’ No. 2 ranking marks the sixth year in a row that a local boys’ team has been among the top five. Camarillo and Hart were ranked first in 1989 and ‘91, respectively, Thousand Oaks was third last year, and Hart was fourth in 1990 and ’92.

Nordhoff is ranked 17th--its first national ranking--after winning its second consecutive State Division III title. The Rangers were the second-highest-ranked team from California.

Thousand Oaks was 13th in the girls’ poll after finishing second behind No. 12 Peninsula in the State Division I championships.

Eighth-ranked Concord Clayton Valley, the State Division III champion, was the top California team.

New York rivals Shenendehowa in Clifton Park and Saratoga Springs were ranked first and second.