Moorpark Seeks Repeat Victory Over Bakersfield

The Moorpark College men’s track and field team did it once, but can the Raiders do it again?

Earlier this season in a triangular meet, Moorpark defeated Bakersfield. It was the Raiders’ first win over the Renegades in 10 years.

Another victory today over the two-time defending Western State Conference champion at College of the Canyons should result in the Raiders’ first WSC title since they returned to the conference in 1986.

“We have a lot of people qualified for the finals in a lot of events, but you never know what’s going to happen in a meet like this,” Moorpark men’s Coach Doni Green said.

The Raiders took a first step toward the title Thursday when Jaime Luevanos, John Clarke, Sean McKeown and Phil Haley placed second, third, sixth and seventh in the hammer throw, which was held at Moorpark because the facility at Canyons fails to meet safety specifications.

With the top eight finishers scoring points on a 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, the Raiders hold a surprising 19-15 advantage over Bakersfield.

The hurdles will be crucial for the Raiders. Joe Maashoff, Martino Wesley and Stacy Gibson have qualified for the finals of both the 110-meter highs and the 400 intermediates, and Jaffers Bailey has qualified for the finals of the highs.

Maashoff is the Moorpark record-holder in the intermediates (53.04 seconds), and Wesley (53.99) moved to fourth on the all-time Raider list in last week’s preliminaries.

Bryan Krill, the school record-holder in the 400 at 47.1, is the defending WSC champion. He also will try to improve on last year’s third-place finish in the 200.

Krill also is scheduled to run legs on Moorpark’s 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams, as will Gibson and Jason Haley. Ken Teasley, who threw a season best of 202-0 in javelin qualifying last week, is favored in that event.

Robert Nelson of Glendale, Kevin Maxie of Valley and Donyhel Johnson of Ventura are expected to contend for individual titles.

Nelson, who won the 10,000 final a week ago, will run in the 3,000 steeplechase and the 5,000 today.

Maxie had the fastest preliminary times in the 200 (21.33) and 400 (47.93), and Johnson is looking to improve on last year’s third-place finish in the long jump.

Moorpark is the defending WSC women’s champion, but the Raiders will be hard-pressed to defeat Santa Monica, which is led by versatile Glory Dolphin.

“Realistically, we need some help to beat them,” Moorpark women’s Coach Manny Trevino said. “If they perform to their capabilities, they should win.”

Heather Hudson, Misty Goodnight, Julie Solis and Jody Runyan will have workhorse schedules for the Raiders. Each is competing in at least five events.

Hudson will compete in the 400, 400 low hurdles, long jump, triple jump and javelin, and run legs on both relay teams. Goodnight has qualified for the finals of the 100, 200, long jump, triple jump and javelin, and she will also run a leg on the 400 relay team.

Lori Church of Moorpark will try to improve on last year’s third-place finishes in the 800 and 1,500. Jennifer Stewart of Valley is favored to add the javelin title to her win in the high jump, held a week ago.