Charles Perry claimed ninth place in the Moorpark Challenge men's cross country race on Friday morning at Moorpark College. The temperature reached 100 degrees during the season-opening race.
Perry, a sophomore from San Marino High, was 20th after the first mile of the 4-mile race and steadily moved up to finish ninth in 25:09. Jake Eisler, an unattached runner, was the winner in 23:02, three seconds ahead of Moorpark's Noah Perez.
"Charlie ran a smart, controlled race," said 10th-year head coach Scott Fickerson.
Michael Cohen, a freshman from Santa Ynez, placed 18th in his first college race.
"He started out well but the heat and two big hills caught up to him a bit at the end," said Fickerson of Cohen. "He stayed tough to finish 18th in 27:50."
There were six schools and 25 runners in the race. Only two schools fielded full teams and Oxnard beat Moorpark 23-32.
The Vaqueros return to action in the Southern Cal Preview on Friday, Sept. 15 at Central Park in Saugus.
