Oak Park’s runners are ready for postseason meets




Mark Nevers and Ben Saxey

Mark Nevers and Ben Saxey


Oak Park cross-country runner Ben Saxey defeated his teammate and friend, Mark Nevers, an All-State runner, at Oak Canyon Park last Thursday during the Tri Valley League’s second league meet.


Oak Park improved to 7-1 and tied for first place with Fillmore after it won the meet, while Carpinteria was a distant third at 4-4.


Saxey’s 16:40 was one-second ahead of Nevers in the last high school meet at home for the two Eagle seniors.


Junior Taylor Hermes ran a 16:55 to place third at Oak Canyon Park.



"It’s an honor to finish second to Ben," said Nevers, the usual winner in races against his good friend. "We’ve been working hard for four years. We train together, and he earned it. He deserved it."


Saxey was humbled despite the victory.


"Every practice I try to stay with Mark," Saxey said. "But I’ve never been able to do it during a race."


Oak Park cross country coach Kevin Smith knew the moment meant more than which runner crossed the finish line first.



"It’s great sportsmanship," Smith said. "To see them working together. They’ve been lifelong friends. They’ve grown up together, and to see them work together like that—to finish their senior year at home like that—was real nice."


Oak Park freshman Lauren Morales won the girls’ race in a time of 19:49, and helping the Eagles’ girls remain undefeated were Kim Bryan, a senior, who placed fifth (21:05), Hailey Swartz, a freshman, who was sixth (21:07) and Kerstin Edwards, a junior, who took seventh (21:11).


"I was surprised because I didn’t think I would be one of the top runners on the varsity. I thought maybe fourth or fifth if I was lucky," Morales said.


Senior Lauren Finkelstein finished twelth.


Bryan said her team would be ready for the postseason.


"We’ve got a lot of injuries right now," Bryan said. "But we’re taking care of those by resting some people. We want to make CIF finals and then hopefully we’ll have a chance to make it to the state (championship meet)."


–Wayne Harrison


Lauren Morales

Lauren Morales

Kim Bryan

Kim Bryan

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