It might have been the final Marmonte League competition of Amanda Hamilton's decorated career at Simi Valley, but it won't be the last time the senior will get to compete at Moorpark High, which is good news for the Pioneers.

 

Hamilton secured three titles Friday, setting a Marmonte record in the triple jump, to contribute to six victories -- including a pair from Sarah Baxter -- for the league-champion Pioneers.

 

Hamilton will continue to compete in the 300-meter hurdles, triple jump, 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays for Simi Valley at the Southern Section Div. II prelims May 12 at Moorpark.

 

"(Moorpark) has definitely been good to us. We're comfortable with the track and we're used to (the stadium), and that's why it was another great day for everyone," Hamilton said. "The schedule gets a little challenging sometimes, but as long as I can continue to manage it, I'll be OK. Overall, it was just a great day getting to do the relays with my teammates. It just shows that all of our hard work finally paid off."

 

Hamilton anchored the Pioneers' 4 x 400 to a program-record 4:00.07, holding off an impressive anchor leg from Thousand Oaks' Caitlin Turner, who won the 800 in 2:18.42 and took second in the 1,600 (5:04.06).

 

After finishing the race, Hamilton ran directly over to the awards podium to receive her gold medal after setting a league triple jump record of 37 feet, 7 3/4 inches, which eclipsed the 1987 mark held by Thousand Oaks' Sharon Manship by one-quarter inch.

 

Hamilton also won the 300 hurdles in 44.44 -- one-tenth off her Ventura County-winning time -- and contributed to a program record in the 4 x 100 relay (48.01), which placed second to Westlake's league finals record of 47.84.

 

Baxter doubled in the 1,600 (4:52.01) and 3,200 (10:28.27), both just off league championship records. Madisen Richards won the long jump (18-8), took second in the 100 (12.13), third in the 200 (25.21) and ran on the 4 x 100 relay for the Pioneers.

 

Westlake freshman Abigail Smith also prevailed in three events, running on the record-setting 4 x 100 before sweeping the 100 (wind-aided 11.99) and 200 (wind-legal 24.48).

 

"I like putting on a show. It feels good to know that people come out here to watch me run," Smith said. "I wanted to come out as a freshman and run PRs and set my mark because I know I still have three more years to improve on them. I really did believe all of this was possible, so (the 4 x 100) was a really good first race for us. We were all so happy to come out and break that record."

 

Newbury Park's Kendall Mader doubled in the shot put (38-9 1/2) and discus throw (122-8 1/2), with Thousand Oaks' Karsen Sper winning the 100 hurdles (wind-aided 14.50), Moorpark's Hannah Dearborn taking the 400 (59.02) and teammates Frances Barnes clearing 10-3 in the pole vault and Lauren Peterson 5-4 in the high jump.

 

Thousand Oaks' Tommy Lopez and Royal's Collin Gordon both won a pair of titles, relying on strong kicks to secure their championships.

 

Following a short turnaround after edging Newbury Park's Terry Pagano -- the 200 champion (22.46) -- in the the 400 (50.28), Gordon rallied in the 300 hurdles to lean past Moorpark's Brandon Hughes, 39.63 to 39.70.

 

"That's how I race. In the last 100 meters, if I'm within 10 meters, I believe that I will catch you, so I just gave it my all and I got him on the lean," Gordon said. "I like challenging myself and the best way to do that is running the 400 and the 300 hurdles."

 

Lopez doubled in the 800 (1:56.98) and 1,600 (4:25.58), avoiding a second-lap collision in the 800 that resulted in him hurdling competitors.

 

"When things like that happen, you just need to have faith in your ability and not try to make it all up at once," Lopez said. "I just tried to stay relaxed and keep myself on an even keel. I wanted to treat the 800 like a relaxed sprint, but I still like my chances in the (1,600) going forward. I ran 4:19 at county and I still feel like I can go faster, I just haven't been in the right race yet."

 

Jonathan Byrne won the 3,200 for Newbury Park with a late kick in 9:40.96 -- surging past Calabasas' Devon Borjas (9:41.41) and Westlake's Mikey Giguere (9:42.20) -- and the Panthers added a victory in the 4 x 400 (3:25.53).

 

Westlake's Adam Augustyn won the 110 hurdles (wind-aided 14.34), Clark Nelson took the high jump (6-4) and Luigi Collela secured the pole vault (15-0).

 

Mitchell Sagely prevailed in the long jump (22-4 1/2) and Robert Eckert won the shot put (51-0) for Moorpark, which took the 4 x 100 relay (43.11).

 

Gabriel Wirtz won the 100 (11.13) and Tanner Geiger took the discus (167-4) for Simi Valley. Agoura's Idrees Bernard won the triple jump (44-2 1/4).