Driven as she is, Liberty Miller hasn't been particularly pleased with her performances this season.

Even a perfectionist couldn't have been disappointed on Tuesday afternoon.

In a key Marmonte League tri-cross country meet at Cal Lutheran, the Simi Valley High junior overpowered the field in leading the Pioneers into undisputed possession of first place. While Miller opened up a lead like she had discovered a secret shortcut, the Simi Valley girls' team eked out a win over top rival Newbury Park that was closer than maternal twins.

Miller won the race in 19 minutes, 37 seconds as Simi Valley tied Newbury Park 28-28, but earned the win because the Pioneers' sixth finisher ended up in front of the Panthers' No. 6 runner.

Miller said the team finish was all that mattered.

"I'm really focused on the team," said Miller. "I've haven't been that happy about how I've done this year, particularly at invitationals like Woodbridge. Today, it was fine. But I'm really happy about the team."

Simi Valley, ranked No. 6 in the CIF-Southern Section Division II, improves to 5-0 in league, while ninth-ranked Newbury Park moves to 4-1.

Simi Valley also defeated host Thousand Oaks, 18-44, while Newbury Park defeated the Lancers, 44-17.

As close as the girls' race ended up, the boys' race was not.

Thousand Oaks, ranked No. 2 in Division II, claimed the first four spots in synch in rolling to a pair of victories: The Lancers (6-0) defeated Simi Valley, 18-36, and topped Newbury Park, 16-40. Simi Valley (3-2) downed Newbury Park (4-1).

Andrew Snyder crossed the finish line first in 17:02, followed by Lancers teammates Sean Gildea (17:03), Kevin Joerger (17:03) and Asher Lober (17:04).

Snyder said the Lancers are anticipating big goals, but aren't overlooking league competition.

"We've like to get to state and at least finish in the top five," Snyder said. "But this was an important meet for us. We know how good these other teams are. We know it's a pretty tough course."

In the girls' race, Miller took the lead from the outset and all but buried the field in the first mile. Her time of 19:37 was more than a minute faster than second-place Jenny Mallen of Newbury Park, who finished in 20:40.

The race itself was a thrill ride, with Simi Valley coach Roger Evans thinking his team was all but out of contention at the 2-mile mark.

"I had us down, 23-34," he said. "A lot of things would have to happen on that last mile for us to win the race."

It happened.

The key movement was Nicole Rietveld moving up to claim third place in 20:55. Led by Mallen, the Panthers went 2-4-5-6. Simi Valley went 7-8-9 to produce the 28-28 deadlock.

The difference was Simi Valley's Amanda Miller finishing ahead of both Newbury Park's No. 5 and No. 6.

Newbury Park's Mallen also took one for the team.

She shrugged off a strained muscle in her left leg to place second.

"It was definitely about helping the team," she said. "It's a really hard course, but we also knew it was an important race."

The Lancers train on the Cal Lutheran course, but ran their only official race there on Tuesday.

"It's a challenge," said Snyder. "We just wanted to come out and do our best."