Finding her passion

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers FOOTLOOSE—Oak Park High junior Melissa Skiba goes for an early morning run on Monday. The Eagle girls' cross country team is aiming for its ninth consecutive Tri-Valley League title this fall. It took some convincing to get Melissa Skiba to participate in cross country at Oak Park High, but ever since she decided to take up the sport, there's been no stopping her.

Even though Skiba's sister Kristina ran for the OPHS cross country team before graduating in 2004, Melissa Skiba felt that running long distances wasn't in the cards when she began her first semester at Oak Park two years ago.

"I didn't plan on running cross country, but my sister kept pushing me to do it and kept telling me I'd love it," Skiba said. "I'd never competed in anything, so I wasn't sure I'd like it, but I gave it a try."

Now a junior, Skiba has evolved into one of the top runners in the area. Skiba finished in 16th place at the CIFSouthern Section Cross Country Finals last fall at Mount San Antonio College and has been a vital factor in helping the Eagle girls' squad finish in the top three the last two years at the state finals.

With former OPHS runners Courtney Lightfoot, Marissa Diehl and Kirsten Jackson having graduated, Skiba has become the Eagles' No. 1 runner in the team's quest to win its ninth consecutive Tri-Valley League championship this season.

"It's a little weird being the team's top runner, as I'm not used to leading our runs in practice," Skiba said. "I was always chasing (Lightfoot) in practice. Still, being No. 1 is something I'm really excited about. I like the responsibility that comes with the role."

Oak Park head coach Kevin Smith said Skiba is handling the transition well.

"She's frightening right now," Smith said. "She's training at a whole new level than she's done in the past. She's running with more intensity and volume. In fact, right now she's running at the same pace as some of our boys."

Smith was surprised when Skiba didn't want to participate in cross country right away, but the coach didn't want to push the issue.

"I never expect anything from an incoming freshman," Smith said. "It's hard for younger siblings to compete in a sport. If you approach an athlete in their first year and say, "Hey, I hope you're as good as your brother or sister,' then that's not fair to them. You're setting them up for failure."

Although Skiba was new to the sport in 2006, halfway through that first season, she made the jump to the varsity squad.

"In the beginning, running cross country was weird because I wasn't used to being so busy all the time," Skiba said. "It surprised me when I made the varsity team because I didn't think I was that good."

Skiba said she gained more confidence after a league meet at Oak Canyon Park, where she finished in third place. Smith, however, said a turning point was Skiba's performance at the CIF-SS Finals last season.

"She didn't place in the top 10 because she had a cramp, but during the race I saw a fire in her eyes I hadn't seen before," Smith said. "Near the end of the race she was in second place and really close to passing the leader, Corona Del Mar High's Shelby Buckley, before she burned out. She was absolutely fearless that race."

Skiba's goals this season include running a three-mile time in the low 17-minute range and to once again be recognized as one of Ventura County's elite runners.

She also wants to fill the void left by Lightfoot, Diehl and Jackson as one of the team's leaders.

"I like to tell the newcomers that there's a lot to look forward to," Skiba said. "You meet a lot of good friends, and I believe the closeness of our team is what helps set us apart from other teams."

Smith believes Skiba will be a fine leader for the Eagles, just not a vocal one.

"She leads more by example," Smith said. "She's quiet, humble and shows a level of intensity in practice that lets her teammates know 'Okay, this is how we do it here, and this is what it's going to take to get things done.'"

These days, when Skiba is with her older sister, she's often reminded of the advice she was given two years ago.

"Yeah, she always tells me, 'I told you so. I told you that you'd love this,'" Skiba said.