Have included the Northern California people just to keep them in the loop. You are all historians of the sport and I thought you might find this interesting.
In December, 2013, the Ventura County Cross Country Coaches Association voted on the first ever Ventura County High School Cross Country Hall of Fame. Runners who graduated prior to 2000 were eligible for the inaugural class. Five females and five males were selected for the first class and will be honored prior to the start of the 3200 meters at this year’s Ventura County Track and Field Championships. A permanent display will eventually be placed at the County Cross Country course at Lake Casitas and at Inside Track in Ventura. In addition, information about the inductees can be found on the Ventura County Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches’ Association website. The link to the main page is http://venturacounty.runnerspace.com The direct link to the Hall of Fame is http://venturacounty.runnerspace.com/gprofile.php?do=title&title_id=818&mgroup_id=44760
This year’s induction class is indeed a stellar class. On the female side, the inductees have won a combined total of 12 Ventura County titles, 12 CIF SS titles and 9 California State titles. The inductees qualified for the Kinney/Footlocker National meet a total of 10 times and Kim Mortensen of Thousand Oaks won the national title in 1995. In addition, three different inductees qualified for the Olympic Trials and Deena Drossin won a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic Games.
On the male side, the inductees won six Ventura County titles, five CIS SS titles and five California State titles even though two of the inductees competed before the establishment of the California State meet. The group qualified for the Kinney/Footlocker National Championships a total of seven times and turned in a very impressive five top five finishes at that meet including national championships by Eric Reynolds and Bryan Dameworth. Reynolds and Dameworth are still the co-recorder holders for Southern Section runners on the famed Woodward Park course, both running 14:39.
Bios for the athletes are copied and pasted below. Female athletes are listed under the name they competed as during their high school career. If you have any questions, please contact me. Photos are also up on the County site along with the All Time best Ventura County marks for Lake Casitas, Mt. Sac and Woodward Park.
Ken Reeves
Class of 1982
Denise Ball-Newbury Park: Denise was three-time Ventura County Cross-Country runner of the year and the first three-time Ventura County Cross-Country Champion. She formerly held the Ventura County course record at Moorpark College. Denise finished second in CIF SS cross-country to Polly Plumer of University High, who went on to set the national 1600 mark the next track season. Denise was the first Ventura County female to qualify for the Kinney National Championships. She ran 17:07 at Woodward Park and ran 17:56 at Mt. Sac as a senior. She went on to run for UCLA and in 1988, Denise ran in the Olympic Trials.
Class of 1991
Deena Drossin-Agoura: First four time Ventura County Champion in cross-country, Deena was also a 3-time CIF SS and 3-time California State Champion. She was also a four-time Kinney National qualifier, finishing 6th as a senior. She ran a best of 17:07 at Woodward Park and 17:16 at Mt. Sac and was the former freshman course record holder at Mt. Sac. Deena went on to earn All American honors at University of Arkansas. After college, Deena has gone on to hold American records in the 10000 meters, 5K, 8K and 15K on the road, ½ marathon and the marathon and took home the bronze medal in the marathon from the 2004 Olympic Games. She twice finished second in the World cross-country championships. Deena was selected for CIF SS 100th anniversary as one of the 100 best athletes in Southern Section history.
Class of 1995
Amy Skieresz-Agoura: Amy was three-time Ventura County, CIF SS and California State champion in cross-country. She had a best of 17:24 at Mt. Sac and 17:27 at Woodward Park. Amy was also a two- time Footlocker National qualifier, finishing third in 1992. Improving as a collegiate, Amy won seven individual NCAA championships as a runner at University of Arizona and earned 10 All American awards during her career.
Class of 1996
Kim Mortensen-Thousand Oaks: Kim was the 1995 Ventura County champion and the 1994 and 1995 CIF SS 1A Champion. She finished second in the state meet and then won the Kinney National Championship, becoming the only girl in Ventura County history to do so in 1995. Kim ran 17:14 at Mt. Sac and 17:25 at Woodward Park. Kim concluded her running career as a UCLA Bruin.
Class of 1998
Elaine Canchola-Nordhoff: Elaine was the 1997 Ventura County Cross Country Champion and the first four-time CIF SS Cross Country champion in history. Sarah Baxter recently became only the third four-time champion. Solid in big meets, Elaine finished second in the state meet twice and was California State Champion twice. She was also a two-time Footlocker National qualifier. She ran 17:35 at Mt. Sac and 17:33 at Woodward Park and broke Deena Drossin’s freshman course record at Mt. Sac. Elaine went on to run in four NCAA Cross Country finals for UCLA and Wisconsin.
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