Like Broken Record, Spiker Wins Again

VENTURA — Josh Spiker of Ventura High is one outstanding distance runner.

Even when he’s not putting forth a 100% effort.

Spiker proved that Friday when he ran a course record of 14:53 to win his second consecutive boys’ title in the Ventura County cross-country championships at Lake Casitas.

Spiker, a senior, didn’t cruise to the time that cut 11 seconds off the three-mile course best set by Keith O’Doherty of Thousand Oaks in 1994. But he also didn’t put forth the kind of effort that resulted in a 14:42 clocking to win the individual sweepstakes race in the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational last Saturday.

“I wasn’t running as hard as last week,” Spiker said after bettering his time in last year’s meet by 29 seconds. “My coach told me not to lead for the first mile, and to just relax and flow during the race.”

Senior Jason Lanning of Buena had a five-yard lead on Spiker after one-half mile but Spiker had a three-second lead over Lanning when he came through the mile in 4:45.

“It didn’t feel that fast,” Spiker said. “I was thinking 4:55 or 5:00 so I was surprised at the time.”

Spiker, winner of the state title in the 3,200 meters in the state track and field championships in June, blew the race open soon after.

He had a 35-second lead on junior Mark Nevers of Oak Park just after two miles and won by 51 seconds. Nevers clocked 15:44 to finish second for the second year in a row.

“I wasn’t going for the record,” Spiker said. “But I’m glad I got it.”

Nevers led Oak Park to its first county title as the Eagles totaled 86 points to 98 for two-time defending champion Nordhoff.

Thousand Oaks placed third with 135 points, paced by senior Seth Neumuller’s third-place time of 15:58.

Nordhoff was ahead of Oak Park at two miles, based on its places at that time. But the two-time defending state Division IV champion Rangers couldn’t hold off Oak Park down the stretch.

“My kids ran the final mile really well,” Coach Kevin Smith of Oak Park said. “They responded to what they saw going on out there, and in a race of this size, that’s not easy to do.”

Senior Erik Wackenstedt of Oak Park finished seventh in 16:08, with junior Ben Saxey 18th in 16:32, sophomore Chase Ferrell 22nd in 16:34 and sophomore Taylor Hermes 37th in 16:54 for the Eagles.

Junior Roberto Contreras placed fifth in 16:00 for Nordhoff.

Junior Laura Jakosky of Agoura won the girls’ meet and Nordhoff defeated two-time defending champion Thousand Oaks for the team championship.

Junior Kelley Hess of Thousand Oaks ran a stride behind Jakosky for the first 2 1/4 miles, but Jakosky opened a small lead on her Marmonte League rival after cresting a steep incline and finished in 18:09.

The time was 12 seconds faster than Jakosky ran in finishing second in the meet last year, moved her to fourth on the all-time course performer list and made her the first Agoura girl to win a county title since Amy Skieresz in 1994.

Hess’ 18:23 clocking tied her for seventh on the all-time course list.

Nordhoff, led by fourth-place Rae Stumbough, defeated Thousand Oaks, 66-104, for its third title in five years. Westlake was third at 119.

Stumbough clocked 19:28 for defending state Division IV champion Nordhoff, with freshman Bessie Hatch 10th 19:53, sophomore Robin Quinn 13th in 20:01, senior Susan Torres 16th in 20:09 and senior Carol Schryver 23rd in 20:26.