So much of track and field is competing against the clock or competing against yourself that it’s occasionally refreshing to see an old-fashioned rivalry break out.
The boys 4×100-meter relay teams from Rio Mesa High and Oaks Christian School have switched back and forth at the top spot of Ventura County leaders going back to last season. A showdown between the two schools at last year’s state meet in Clovis fell apart when Rio Mesa’s Blake Selig broke his leg running at the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 prelims.
This season, Oaks Christian is second in the state with a time of 41.48 seconds and Rio Mesa is right behind at 41.62 (Sherman Oaks-Notre Dame is tops at 41.45). At last week’s Ventura County Championships, Rio Mesa won the event in 41.69. Oaks Christian — running without Vinnie Saucer, who coach West Smith said was resting his legs for the postseason — was second in 42.16.
