CROSS COUNTRY: OLD SCHOOL SUITS O. PARK NEVERS LEADS AS EAGLES, NO. 4 IN STATE, WIN PRELIMS.

Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News

WALNUT - It's been called the ``stealth project'' because of its few racing appearances this fall.

But there was nothing incognito about the Oak Park High boys' cross country team in the Southern Section Division IV preliminaries at Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday, considering the 20-year-old yellow jerseys and shorts their runners donned.

The ``throwback'' uniforms were worn by Oak Park's first cross country team when the school opened in 1981. The Eagles have made it a tradition to wear them at least once a year.

``Some guys like them,'' senior Mark Nevers said. ``Some guys don't.''

The heavy mesh jerseys did not appear to hinder Oak Park at Saturday's meet, the top finishers of which advance to next weekend's finals. The Eagles, the Southern Section's top-ranked team and No. 4 in the state, romped to a 32-86 heat victory over Morro Bay behind a runaway victory by Nevers and four runners among the top nine.

Nevers timed a career-best 15 minutes, 18 seconds over the hilly, 2.95- mile course for a 59-second victory over L.A. Baptist's Erik Amidsen.

Taylor Hermes was fourth in 16:24 with sophomore Igos Tregus (16:37) and senior Ben Saxey (16:38) in eighth and ninth.

Sophomore Jon Yahalom rounded out the Eagles' scoring in 16:49. In all, Oak Park's seven runners finished in the top 20 with juniors Chase Ferrell (16:51) and Chase Barron (16:58) in 17th and 19th.

``I am really proud of them,'' Oak Park coach Kevin Smith said. ``They could have been a little flat but they ran exceptional. They made a strong case for themselves today.''

Oak Park has been among the favorites for the section title after returning the bulk of its 1999 squad that finished second in the section finals and fourth in the state championships.

Saturday's competition, though, was only the fifth for the Eagles, who skipped the Mt. SAC invitational in October and an opportunity to go head to head against the state's best in favor of training. Last year, Oak Park ran in 13 meets.

``We came out fresh and ready to go,'' said Nevers, who finished third in the 1999 state meet. ``I did not see any effects of not racing. I felt really good. I think the next two weeks are going to be the big peak. It is was hard to watch people run really fast and sit back and watch. But at the same time, it is kind of nice to have a break from races.''

Next week, Oak Park may create even more of a stir with rumors of unveiling leopard-print shorts for the finals. It is unclear whether the jerseys were worn voluntarily. Ferrell claims Saturday's uniforms were punishment from rules violations in summer training camp. Nevertheless, the squad voted 4-3 to wear the jerseys in the section finals.

``I voted against it,'' Ferrell said. ``We had kind of put it off. The team forgot about it. Maybe since we agreed to wear them they will give us a break next time.''

Not if Smith has his way. Smith said he has two boxes of the uniforms waiting in reserve.

``They are hoping there are not that many left, but I am good for a couple of years,'' Smith said.

Hoover of Glendale senior Anita Siraki is adding to her Mt. SAC legacy after setting a course-record 16:38 in the Mt. SAC invitational. The defending state and section champion ran 17:05 to win her Division I heat for the meet's fastest mark to tie for the sixth-fastest time ever. Along with her 16:58 effort in the 1999 section finals, Siraki has three of the top six marks.

Thousand Oaks turned in its best performance of the season for a surprising 45-49 Division I heat victory over Quartz Hill - the state's No. 3 team - with the 3-7-9 finish of senior Kelley Hess (18:47), freshman Sarah Cradeur (19:12) and junior Ashley Patteson (19:17).

The Lancers, who have come on strong in recent weeks to win a share of their sixth Marmonte League title, turned in a team time of 96:08 that was more than three minutes faster than its performance of 99:17 in the Mt. SAC invitational.

Canyon of Canyon Country's boys and girls, the section's top-ranked teams in Division II, posted heat victories.

The Canyon boys outdistanced runner-up Burbank 42-91 - despite illness to No. 1 runner Nick Zoetewey - with the 3-4-5 finish of junior Jameson Mora (15:33), sophomore Ryan Morgan (15:36) and junior Luke Llamas (15:37).

Zoetewey, the two-time Foothill League champion who ran 15:13 in the Mt. SAC Invitational, was the team's fourth runner in 14th at 16:08.

Canyon's girls, coming off their eighth Foothill League title in nine seasons, were 53-97 winners over Laguna Hills with fifth- and sixth-place finishes by Jazmin Treadway (18:54) and Brenda Stevens (19:06). Agoura, led by individual winner Laura Jakosky (17:47), finished fourth to advance.

The La Canada girls and Desert Christian of Lancaster girls were heat winners in Divisions III and V, respectively. Newbury Park (Division III) and two-time state defending Division V champion Flintridge Prep also ran to heat victories.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo: MARK NEVERS

The Oak Park senior clocked a career-best 15:18 to lead his team into the finals.