Thousand Oaks Girls Earn a Split Decision

CAMARILLO — Four girls from the Thousand Oaks High track team stood on the infield of the track at Camarillo High on Friday, clenched in a group hug with smiles plastered across their faces.

Amanda Armstrong, Jennifer Corral, Melissa McBain and Stephanie Overton had just finished fourth in the 1,600-meter relay in the Marmonte League finals, but the Lancers avenged an earlier-season loss to Newbury Park and won a share of the Marmonte League title--their fourth consecutive championship and 17th in 20 years.

Newbury Park, the dual-meet champion, claimed its first league title since 1979.

The fourth-place finish in the relay, the meet’s final event, capped a day of domination by the Lancers. Thousand Oaks finished with 147 points to 105 for second-place Newbury Park. Camarillo (61), Simi Valley (59), Channel Islands (59), Royal (41), Westlake (22) and Agoura (2) followed.

“Ever since we lost to [Newbury Park] we’ve been working for this,” said Armstrong, who won the 800 in 2:22.9 and the 1,600 in 5:14.29.

Lancer Coach Dan Murphy, who calculated the score after each event, told his team they had the meet wrapped up heading into the relay.

“We still wanted to beat them,” Overton said. “It was nice knowing that even if we lost we won. Last time it rested on the relay.”

The Lancers took first in six girls’ events, including two each by Armstrong and Erin Brzezinski, who won the 200 in 25.61 and the long jump at 17-5.

Shannon Livingston of Simi Valley set a league record in the 100 hurdles at 15.10, breaking the mark Agoura’s Cathy Prater set in 1994.

Camarillo, boys’ dual-meet champion, won the league meet with 100 points. Newbury Park had 87 followed by Channel Islands (86), Agoura (68), Thousand Oaks (65), Simi Valley (50), Westlake (32) and Royal (8).

Kevin Brusca won the pole vault at 13-6 and Rey Coronado won the 1,600 in 4:21.22 for the Scorpions.

Ryan Meuse of Simi Valley won the 400 in 49.25 and the 800 in 1:57.05. He was eighth in the 300 hurdles.

Michael Jackson of Channel Islands won the high jump at 6-4 and the 200 meters at 22.32.