Clear Mind Could Give Skieresz Clear Sailing

Amy Skieresz of Arizona is trying not to get bogged down in all the numbers before the NCAA cross-country championships in Greenville, S.C., on Monday.

Skieresz, a 1995 graduate of Agoura High, can cap a second consecutive undefeated season by winning the women’s title on a 5,000-meter course at Furman University Golf Course.

She can become the third woman to win back-to-back NCAA titles with her 14th consecutive victory over the last two seasons, but the Wildcat junior says she’s not concerned with those statistics.

“I don’t talk about the streak and my coach doesn’t talk about the streak,” Skieresz said. “I think that you can get too involved in that type of stuff.

“There’s no difference between this year and last. It’s just another race. That’s how I’m looking at it.”

Skieresz won her third consecutive Pacific 10 Conference and West regional titles earlier this month.

Senior Ryan Wilson, who won the state Division II title for Agoura in 1992, will try to help Arkansas win a record ninth team title.

Junior Karen Bockel of Arkansas, 1992 state Division IV champion for Nordhoff, finished 87th last year.

Antonio Arce of Notre Dame, the 1994 state Division II champion for Palmdale, was 160th last year.