Amy Skieresz

SCHOOL: Agoura SPORT: Cross-country YEAR: Junior SEASON AT A GLANCE: Although Skieresz won her second consecutive Division I title in the Southern Section championships at Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday, her junior season has not been easy. She didn't run for much of October because of an ear infection and flu.

Amy Skieresz, one of the most successful distance runners in NCAA history while at Arizona, has retired from national-class running. Skieresz, 23, won seven NCAA titles in track and field, and cross-country, but the 1995 graduate of Agoura High said she no longer has the motivation to train and compete at the elite level. "It's just a feeling I've had for the last couple of months," said Skieresz, who graduated from Arizona in December with a bachelor's degree in English.

'It's nice to have the winning streak, but it's not why I'm here. I don't think about it, it's mostly the reporters who do.' Amy Skieresz, Arizona and former Agoura High cross-country runner after winning her 13th consecutive race Saturday in the NCAA West regional in Tucson, Ariz.

Amy Skieresz of Arizona will enter the NCAA cross-country championships at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kan., on Monday with a 6-0 season record for the third year in a row. But for the first time in her college career, the 1995 graduate of Agoura High is on a team that is a title contender. That fact has the Wildcat senior feeling less pressure than she did a year ago when she was Arizona's only representative in the women's race.

Amy Skieresz SCHOOL: Agoura SPORT: Track and field YEAR: Senior SEASON AT A GLANCE: Skieresz ran school records of 10 minutes 16.42 seconds in the 3,200 meters and 4:52.70 in the 1,600 to rank third and seventh on the all-time region lists. Her 3,200 time ranks 12th on the all-time state list and third on this year's national list. WEEK AT A GLANCE: The Arizona-bound Skieresz ran 10:28.23 in the 3,200 to place second behind Santa Rosa's Julia Stamps (10:15.

Arizona sophomore Amy Skieresz won her third consecutive race of the cross-country season last Saturday with a course-record performance in the Maine Invitational. The 1995 graduate of Agoura High clocked 16 minutes 33.1 seconds over the 5,000-meter distance to win by 46 seconds. Skieresz will go for victory No. 4 on Saturday when Arizona hosts the Pre-NCAA Championship meet at Dell Urich Golf Course in Tucson.

Amy Skieresz, one of the most successful distance runners in NCAA history while at Arizona, has retired from national-class running. Skieresz, 23, won seven NCAA titles in track and field, and cross-country, but the 1995 graduate of Agoura High said she no longer has the motivation to train and compete at the elite level. "It's just a feeling I've had for the last couple of months," said Skieresz, who graduated from Arizona in December with a bachelor's degree in English.

Arizona sophomore Amy Skieresz appears to have completely recovered from the Achilles' tendon injury that forced her to miss the NCAA track and field championships in May. The 1995 graduate of Agoura High rolled to her second consecutive cross-country victory of the season in the Mountain West Invitational at the University of Montana Golf Course on Saturday.

What's next for University of Arizona distance runner Amy Skieresz? The Wildcat sophomore and 1995 graduate of Agoura High couldn't answer that after romping to the women's title in the NCAA cross-country championships in Tucson on Nov. 25. But she can now. "She definitely wants to try and make the U.S. [World Championships] team in the 5,000 [meters]," Arizona Coach Dave Murray said. "Last year, she went to the Olympic trials with the attitude that, hey, it's nice to be here, blah, blah, blah.

Amy Skieresz of Arizona will enter the NCAA cross-country championships at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kan., on Monday with a 6-0 season record for the third year in a row. But for the first time in her college career, the 1995 graduate of Agoura High is on a team that is a title contender. That fact has the Wildcat senior feeling less pressure than she did a year ago when she was Arizona's only representative in the women's race.

Amy Skieresz, a graduate of Agoura High, became the third woman to be selected Pacific-10 Conference track and field athlete of the year two consecutive years. Skieresz, a junior at Arizona, won the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive year and has eight individual national titles in cross-country and track and field.

'It's nice to have the winning streak, but it's not why I'm here. I don't think about it, it's mostly the reporters who do.' Amy Skieresz, Arizona and former Agoura High cross-country runner after winning her 13th consecutive race Saturday in the NCAA West regional in Tucson, Ariz.

From the Olympic Games to the Little League World Series, the sporting events of 1996 were brought to life with help from Valley and Ventura County newsmakers. From sprawling Cal State Northridge to tiny St. Bonaventure High, schools in the region made headlines.

What's next for University of Arizona distance runner Amy Skieresz? The Wildcat sophomore and 1995 graduate of Agoura High couldn't answer that after romping to the women's title in the NCAA cross-country championships in Tucson on Nov. 25. But she can now. "She definitely wants to try and make the U.S. [World Championships] team in the 5,000 [meters]," Arizona Coach Dave Murray said. "Last year, she went to the Olympic trials with the attitude that, hey, it's nice to be here, blah, blah, blah.

Arizona sophomore Amy Skieresz dominated the nation's best women's college distance runners Monday to win the NCAA cross-country championships at the Dell Urich Golf Course. At least that's how most people saw it. Not Skieresz. "On any given day, other girls could have won this race," she said. "I happened to win today." Modest and diplomatic, but not very accurate. Skieresz's margin of victory was almost 100 meters, which is actually typical.

In the world of college distance running, she might be the nation's brightest star. Yet Amy Skieresz of the University of Arizona has a kind of love-hate relationship with the sport. The 1995 graduate of Agoura High is enamored by running, enjoys racing immensely and thrives on winning, but she could do without the recognition that has come with her success.

In the world of college distance running, she might be the nation's brightest star. Yet Amy Skieresz of the University of Arizona has a kind of love-hate relationship with the sport. The 1995 graduate of Agoura High is enamored by running, enjoys racing immensely and thrives on winning, but she could do without the recognition that has come with her success.

Amy Skieresz, a graduate of Agoura High, became the third woman to be selected Pacific-10 Conference track and field athlete of the year two consecutive years. Skieresz, a junior at Arizona, won the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive year and has eight individual national titles in cross-country and track and field.

Arizona sophomore Amy Skieresz won her third consecutive race of the cross-country season last Saturday with a course-record performance in the Maine Invitational. The 1995 graduate of Agoura High clocked 16 minutes 33.1 seconds over the 5,000-meter distance to win by 46 seconds. Skieresz will go for victory No. 4 on Saturday when Arizona hosts the Pre-NCAA Championship meet at Dell Urich Golf Course in Tucson.

Arizona sophomore Amy Skieresz appears to have completely recovered from the Achilles' tendon injury that forced her to miss the NCAA track and field championships in May. The 1995 graduate of Agoura High rolled to her second consecutive cross-country victory of the season in the Mountain West Invitational at the University of Montana Golf Course on Saturday.