CLOSE-UP : Matt Thomson Is Shaping Agoura Into a Team to Beat

The Ventura County cross-country championships Friday were a coming-out party for Matthew Thomson of Agoura High.

A native of Liverpool, England, the senior had been overshadowed by freshman teammate Bryan Dameworth this season.

Dameworth began the season in superb condition. Thomson did not. He spent three weeks in August on vacation in his homeland and returned to Agoura out of shape. So while Dameworth was setting two course records and winning six of eight races, Thomson was slowly working himself back.

The wait is over. Thomson ran a 15:39 over the tough, three-mile Moorpark College course to place third.

Led by the performances of Dameworth (second in 15:29) and Thomson, Agoura, a Southern Section 2-A team, finished third ahead of good 4-A teams from Rio Mesa and Newbury Park.

Thomson’s performance surprised everyone but himself. “I’m finally racing how I’m capable of,” he said.

“There was no doubt in my mind at the beginning of the season that Matt was capable of running with Bryan,” Agoura Coach Bill Duley said. “It was just a matter of him getting back into shape.”