Moorpark College has named longtime assistant coach Eleazar Hernandez head coach of its men's track and field team.

Hernandez has been an assistant coach for the Raiders' track and cross-country programs for 10 years, which included nine consecutive Western State Conference titles and the 2003 men's track and field state championship team.

"He has been an excellent coach and role model for our student athletes for several years," said athletic director Howard Davis.

The Camarillo High and Moorpark College product was also an illustrious runner. Hernandez was the California state men's cross country champion in 1996, when he lead the Raiders to the team title, and the 1997 state champion in the men's 10,000 meters. He remains in the school all-time Top 10 in three track events, the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters.

Hernandez was the NCAA West regional runner-up in 1998 at the University of Hawaii, Hilo.

"Eleazar's story illustrates what makes community college athletics such a valuable asset to our county," said Davis. "Upon graduation from Camarillo HS, he had no scholarship opportunities. He came to Moorpark College, worked hard in the classroom and on the track. That hard work led to a full scholarship, and eventually a college degree."

Moorpark College athletic director Howard Davis was surprised to hear longtime track coach Bob MacKay had accepted a position coaching football and track at Modesto Junior College, according to a Aug. 18 story in the Modesto Bee.

"As far as the college is concerned, we don't know anything," said Davis. "On an official basis, he hasn't told us anything."

Coaching the Moorpark throwers for the past 11 years, MacKay, who did not return a phone message Thursday, had coached 18 individual state champions. During his tenure, the Moorpark men won the 2003 state championship and finished state runners-up in 2005, 2006 and 2009.

Moorpark products Lucais MacKay won the NCAA Division I hammer title in 2003 and Kibwe Johnson is the reigning U.S. champion in the hammer throw.

Moorpark is currently in the process of hiring a head coach for the men's track team.

"After we hire a head coach, I'm going to talk to HR about my suspicions," said Davis. "It's a little strange. But it's not completely unexpected... People have to do what they have to do."

Both Moorpark College and Ventura College are looking for new head coaches for their track and field programs.

Linda Boyan, who spent the last two seasons as the Moorpark men's track and field coach, will not return, according to athletic director Howard Davis.

Tony Veney, the head coach of the Ventura College track and field and cross country programs, will return to the NCAA Division I level next month at North Carolina A&T.

The former UCLA and Oregon assistant accepted the Greensboro, N.C. school's director of track and field programs position last week.

"It was not an easy decision," said Veney while driving through Little Rock, Ark. Wednesday. "It was very difficult for me to leave the young people who are coming back. We've had a good year. The program had a great year recruiting. Some of the coaches in the area were really buying into what we were doing.

"Unfortunately, this whole California budget thing put Ventura and myself between a rock and a hard place."

The highlights of Veney's brief tenure include Teddy Elsenbaumer's Southern California decathlon title and the rare home dual meet sweep over Moorpark, Cuesta and Canyons April 1.

"Ventura College is deeply indebted to Tony for his two years of service," said Ventura athletic director Will Cowen. "I really think he had our programs on the verge of something really special. He was an excellent teacher and excellent motivator. We wish him all the best."

Nicole Rietveld may just be a Moorpark College freshman, but she's also the elder sister of two young runners.

Both Rietveld's brothers, Byron, a 16-year-old sophomore at Simi Valley High, and Brett, a 14-year-old with the Simi Valley Running Rebels track club, share their sister's sport.

"It's nice having my brothers run because it helps us understand each other," said Rietveld. "We like discussing about our races. I like giving them tips."

The Simi Valley High product is part of Moorpark College's strong freshman class of distance runners, which includes Andrea Barrera (Fillmore), Alexis Pichardo (Moorpark) and Ashley Hamilton (Moorpark).

"I really do think how close we are helps," said Rietveld. "Our track workouts really push you to your limits and make you get out of your comfort zone."

Moorpark College freshman Nicole Rietveld is the No. 2 seed in the women's 3,000 meters steeplechase at the Southern California championships today at Mount San Antonio College.

This season, the Simi Valley High product is competing in the event for the first time.

"She didn't expect to run this well in this event," said Moorpark distance coach Eleazar Hernandez. "But she's put in the work."

Rietveld ran a 10:59.61 at the Riverside Open March 25.

The Moorpark College men's track and field team has already started strong in the field events. Brett Olsen and Andrew Scott finished 1-2 in the discus last week and five of the Top 8 seeds in the hammer throw are Raiders: Scott, Tyler Regan, Olsen, Austin Field, Austin Landis and Austin Benson.

"When that hammer opens up, we might be looking at second through sixth on paper," said Moorpark coach Linda Boyan. "We still hope to score very well there and you never know, anybody's capable of stepping up and hitting the big one."

Moorpark has also seen a revival in the pole vault this season

Roger Mantor, a Royal High product, and Nikolas Alhaus, a Thousand Oaks High product, have been helped by former Thousand Oaks coach Bob Yudovin.

Charlie Petrie continues to lead Moorpark College men's track and field team in the distance events.

Last weekend, the Oaks Christian product finished second (32:17.20) in the 10,000 meters. Today, he's the top seed in the 5,000 meters (14:45.15) and the second seed in the 1,500 meters (4:07.94).

"He's already scored for us big," said Moorpark coach Linda Boyan. "He's been consistently good... We know he has a lot of talent, but I think he's taken it upon himself to be a more all-around leader on the track."

The reigning WSC cross-country champion, Petrie finished fourth in the 1,500 at the Mount SAC relays April 9.

"He's a more mature competitor this season," said Boyan. "He's accepted that challenge and done extremely well for us in every meet."

No matter the barrier, Moorpark College runner Nicole Rietveld is continuing her stellar freshman year.

The Simi Valley High product broke the school record in the 3000-meter steeplechase March 12 at the Cal State Northridge Invitational.

She had never run the event before and had only trained for the event's 30-inch barriers and water pits twice.

"I just wanted to try it because it looked really fun," said Rietveld. "I was really scared for the first two laps, but then I got into it."

Rietveld finished the event in 11:21.6. The previous school record of 11:59 was set by Berenice Magana in 2003.

"She's never done hurdles, either," said Moorpark coach Traycie Kephart. "But it was something she wanted to do and she built for it."

Reitveld, who finished fourth in last fall's Western State Conference cross-county championships, has also run the 800, 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 meters for the Raiders.

"She's definitely talented," said Kephart. "The biggest thing is just not being afraid, being aggressive and keeping your pace consistent. She did that. She was up there in the front the whole time."

Was it beginner's luck? Reitveld will run the steeplechase for the second time today at the Riverside Invitational.

Moorpark College's Kenneth Sugishita came in a distant second to first-place finisher Nate Moses of Fresno City College in Friday's discus competition at the California Community College championships at Antelope Valley College.

Moses unleashed a winning first throw of 192 feet, 11 inches. Sugishita had a long throw of 174-7.

Local community college athletes had a field day at the Southern California regional championships Saturday at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

Moorpark's Kenneth Sugishita won the men's discus, Moorpark's Josh McClure won the men's shot put, Moorpark's Jane Swenson won the hammer and Ventura's James Innis won the high jump.

The top six in each event qualified for the state championships next week at Antelope Valley College.

Sugishita won the discus (167 feet, 3 inches), took second in the shot put (52-0.5) and fourth in the hammer (169-0). McClure won the shot put with a throw of 53-4.5.

Gabe Acero took sixth (170-1) in the hammer. Andrew Durham took fifth (47-11.5) in the shot put and seventh (161-8) in the hammer.

Charlie Petrie finished second (9:23.63) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Isidore Herrers placed fourth (15:20.6) in the 5,000 meters and third (31:38) in the 10,000 meters.

Swenson and Ventura's Cynthia Sanchez finished first (161-11) and second in the women's hammer, respectively. Sanchez's mark set a school record. Swenson also placed second in the shot put (43-11) and third in the discus (141-6). Sanchez was sixth (40-0.5) in the shot put.

Madelyn Stoltze placed second in the 5,000 (17:50.72) and fifth in the 10,000 (37:24). Shara Longbotham placed third in the high jump (5-3).

The Moorpark men finished fourth (65 points) as a team and the women finished seventh (42 points). Ventura was 18th (11 points) and 17th (13 points), respectively.

Moorpark College took the Western State Conference championships in men's and women's discus at the WSC Prelims Saturday at the Ventura College Sportsplex.

Kenneth Sugishita won the men's discus in (151 feet, 9 inches) and Jane Swenson won the women's discus (134-9).

In the men's 10,000 meters, Isidore Herrera finished second (32:08) and Cesar Lopez finished fifth (32:58). Madelyn Stoltze finished second (37:41) in the women's 10,000 meters.

Also in the discus, Gabriel Acero was third (134-9) and Cameron Begue was fifth (130-9).

Click the jump for the full Moorpark qualifiers for the WSC Finals Friday at Moorpark.

The WSC Track and Field Championships are this weekend in Bakersfield.

Moorpark's 4x100-meter relay team of Brittni Showers, Calyx Schentrup, Katie Dana and Cara Jones broke the school record for the second time this season Saturday at Ventura, finishing in 49.22 seconds.

Showers, a sophomore, qualified in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 hurdles, and also runs on both relay teams.

Ventura leads the conference in qualifiers in the women's throws events, with 14. Randi Hicks, Holly Russell and Kyndle Ruby swept the javelin event at last weekend's prelims in Ventura. Hicks' mark was 142 feet, three inches.