Ventura’s Spiker Makes Strong Run at Course Record

Senior Josh Spiker of Ventura High challenged the course record in the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational cross-country meet Saturday.

Spiker, winner of the boys’ 3,200 meters in the state track and field championships in June, won the individual sweepstakes race in 14 minutes 42 seconds. That was only 10 seconds off the 2.95-mile course record set by Jeff Nelson of Burbank in 1978.

Spiker moved to sixth on the all-time course-performer list.

Spiker’s race started five minutes after senior Matt McIvale of Ramona of the San Diego Section clocked 14:53 to win the team sweepstakes race and move into a tie for ninth on the all-time performer list.

“That gave me something to shoot for,” Spiker said.

Chino Don Lugo, led by fifth-place Arturo Garcia, took the team sweepstakes title with an 88-133 victory over Clovis.

Juniors Sara Bei of Santa Rosa Montgomery and Alejandra Barrientos of Felton San Lorenzo Valley turned in the top performances in the girls’ meet.

Bei, third in the Foot Locker national championships last year, won the individual sweepstakes race for the second consecutive time with a time of 17:05.

Barrientos won the team sweepstakes race in 17:13 for San Lorenzo Valley.