Camarillo High has a lineup that could be the best in Ventura County.
With Heyden Wooff, the Scorpions could be one of the best Division II boys’ cross country teams in the state.
“On paper, it could be as good a team as we have had in 20 years,” said Camarillo coach Mike Smith.
Erik Pinuelas, coming off a track season that saw him advance to the section Masters Meet, was second at the Woodbridge Invitational Rated Division race last Saturday, leading Camarillo to fourth place.
The rest of the lineup includes Daniel Stebbings, Cole Couchman, 2009 county freshman runner of the year Joel Gonzalez, Esteban Vega and Adam Lucero.
Having Wooff, The Star’s 2009 Runner of the Year, in the lineup changes Camarillo’s dynamic. One of the state’s top 3,200-meter runners as a freshman, Wooff placed second in the section and fifth at state last fall.
Constant back problems limited Wooff’s 2010 track season.
“He remains a question mark,” said Smith.
Wooff’s back appears better, but late in the summer he developed a “significant strain on the inner thigh of the left leg,” said Smith. “What I am encouraged is that it is in the soft tissue.”
Scrambling for positions behind Camarillo in the Pacific View League are Oxnard, Rio Mesa and Pacifica.
On paper, the Marmonte League could be up for grabs.
Traditionally strong Royal and Thousand Oaks will contend once more.
At the Adidas Oak Park Invitational, Thousand Oaks had five of the top eight finishers, including runner-up Sam Worley.
Westlake returns Jonathan Miller and Timmy Snyder from a unit that placed ninth at CIF last year. Don’t count out Newbury Park, which has Sean Grumney, Willson Horne and promising freshman Jonathan Byrne. Simi Valley’s Michael Vorgitch has emerged as one of the county’s top runners.
Four-time defending Channel League champion Ventura returns Easton Tackett and Kyle Salmonsen. The Cougars had five of the top 11 finishers at Morro Bay.
Expected to challenge for the Channel League individual title is Buena’s Alex Martinez.
Oak Park looks to repeat as league champion with Blake Minasian and Michael Tucker leading the way.
Expect challenges from Oaks Christian and 2009 Frontier League champion Nordhoff, which returns Gustavo Sanchez and Matt Russell.
The new-look Frontier League finds Tri-Valley League transports Carpinteria and Malibu contending with Santa Clara and Bishop Diego.
As always the team to watch in the Condor League is Thacher, which has qualified for the state meet the last two years. The Toads were the 2009 Division V runner-up.
