Maddie Weinstock and Brian Joerger spark Thousand Oaks High’s cross country teams.

Weinstock, a senior in her first year with the girls’ squad, won her first two Marmonte League meets. Joerger, also a senior, has shredded time and propelled himself to the front of the pack with the best of the boys’ team.

They are extraordinary student athletes.

“Maddie’s changed everything for us,” coach Andy Thompson said. “She brings a level of dedication I think is unmatched by any high school athlete. She wants to know anything she can do to get better.”

Thompson, who shares head coaching duties with Keena Carstensen, said Joerger has matured into an elite long-distance runner.

“He’s doing all the little things that are making him consistent,” the coach said. “He’s had a few hiccups. For the most part, he’s extremely consistent. . . . He’s doing everything right.”

Weinstock didn’t grow up running. She starred at setter for the Lancer volleyball team the past three years. Her older sister, Halley, played volleyball at TOHS before graduating in 2012, while her younger sister, Meredith, is a sophomore volleyball standout.

Everything changed for Maddie Weinstock last Thanksgiving when she ran a local 5K Turkey Trot with her mom, Sherri. The Lancer became interested in running and decided to pick up track and field in the spring. That led her right into cross country.

“It’s been amazing,” Weinstock said of her brief but brilliant cross country experience.

“It’s such a fun sport. The whole team is like a family. It’s an awesome support system to be part of. . . . Every run is a chance to get better. You can really improve on a daily basis.”

Does she miss volleyball, a sport she started playing in sixth grade?

“I really don’t miss it,” the Lancer said without missing a beat.

Weinstock surged at the Woodbridge Invitational in September, completing the course in 17 minutes, 57 seconds. She won both Marmonte meets: She zipped by the field at Newbury Park’s Peppertree Park in 18:56 and breezed past adversaries at Agoura in 18:13. She won the Newbury Park race by 30 seconds, according to Thompson.

The Lancer is very ambitious, for a “rookie” or veteran.

“A big goal personally and as a team is to go to the state competition,” she said. “We really have to commit to it inside practice and outside practice. We have to hydrate, eat healthy, train hard and be positive.”

A valedictorian candidate with a 4.73 grade-point average, Weinstock is an academic peer mentor and president of two clubs, the Link Crew Club and the Pay It Forward Club. She enjoys painting and baking—red velvet cupcakes are her specialty.

She would like to continue running in college in an academically stimulating environment: She’s considering running at UC Davis, Rice, Tufts and Texas Christian.

“She’s really been a huge inspiration to me,” senior captain Mikayla Ybarra said of Weinstock. “She’s just a really dedicated person. She’s always pushing us to go harder.”

Joerger is having a breakout cross country season.

The Lancer took second place at last week’s Marmonte meet to Agoura’s Michael Powell—who edged Joerger by 0.2 seconds.

“In past years I was inexperienced leading a team,” Joerger said. “The stars at Westlake, Moorpark and Newbury Park were a little out of my league. I was leading the team, but I was behind them.

“This year, I’ve been able to run with the leaders and really compete with them.”

Joerger’s key to success is simple. It’s all about confidence.

Joerger will be one of seven contenders in the Ventura County Championships race at Lake Casitas on Halloween. There’s no favorite, the Lancer said, but he’s excited to make a mark in a competitive field.

The senior set a personal record of 14:59 at Woodbridge this fall. According to Joerger, his best race, however, was the Clovis Invitational earlier this month. Joerger completed Clovis in 15:42.

“I’m always trying to keep up with him,” senior Spencer Flynn said of Joerger. “He brings a sense of optimism. When we’re struggling during repeats, he yells at us even when he’s out of breath. He pumps us up.”

Joerger, a co-captain with Flynn and Edward Si, helped the Lancers reach the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 finals last year. He’d like to push them into the state meet, also at Clovis, for an encore.

An honors student with a 4.3 GPA, Joerger is a math tutor who enjoys skim boarding, boogie boarding and spending time with his friends.

The Lancer hails from a cross country family. His older siblings Melanie and Kevin (both TOHS grads) ran at Loyola Marymount. His sister Lexi, a Thousand Oaks freshman, is a cross country runner. His father, Scott Joerger, was formerly the editor of DyeStatCal.com.

Brian Joerger’s top three choices to run at the next level are Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara and Gonzaga. He’s got unfinished business at Thousand Oaks.

“I want to be Marmonte League champion,” Joerger said. “I want to beat Powell.”

CAN’T CATCH THE LANCERS

The Thousand Oaks High girls’ and boys’ cross country teams will compete on Halloween at the Ventura County Championships at Lake Casitas in Ojai.

Mikayla Ybarra is a senior captain for the girls’ squad. Coach Andy Thompson called Ybarra “the best captain we’ve ever had.”

“Everyone looks out for each other and is supportive of each other,” Ybarra said.

Ybarra completed this fall’s Woodbridge Invitational in 18:45. The honors student is active in the Ethos Entrepreneur Academy and participated in mock trial for two years. She’d like to study political science or business at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Spencer Flynn stands out for the boys’ team. The senior said the Lancers can improve upon last year’s CIF-Southern Section Division 2 finals appearance by qualifying for the state meet.

“There’s a big sense of belief among all of us,” Flynn said. “We all compete with each other.”

Flynn, who completed Woodbridge in 15:32, sports a 4.8 GPA and is a valedictorian candidate. He’s president of three organizations on campus: the Health Science Majors, the Ping Pong Club and the Political Debate Club. His top college choices include Princeton and Notre Dame.

Bailey De Luca and Nicole Pommerening are sophomore standouts on the girls’ team. Esther Loose and Danielle Ip, aMoorpark transfer, are strong seniors. Sonia Smith and Kayla Klusman are freshmen to watch.

On the boys’ side, Flynn, Brian Joerger and Edward Si are captains. Bjorn Slattum is one of the best sophomore runners in the county. Grant Boden, a senior, has been injured, but the Lancers hope he can return before the postseason. Timmy Stevens and George McGuigan are talented juniors.

Thompson and Keena Carstensen share coaching duties with assistants Julie Harding and Sharlene “Superwoman” Caldwell.

“We’re focused on the process,” said Thompson, a 2001 TOHS graduate. “State is not the end all, be all. It’s about the dedication to perfecting what we do every day.”

The Lancers are known for more than blazing trails. They’re also enthusiastic cheerleaders.

“We’re known for cheering,” Flynn said. “We’ll have capes on and wave flags and cheer runners. After races, we go out and cheer.”