As Captains, we want to continue on the legacy of Thousand Oaks Cross Country–a competitive team that has state, CIF, and league titles on both sides, and a fun team known throughout the state for our TOXC capes and goofy antics at meets. We encourage new runners to really buy into our team and into our program and to get everything they can out of the joy of running with friends. If anyone comes into TOXC ready to run and to work hard they’ll get more out of it than they put in; all of us captains can attest to that.
We welcome all new runners; welcome to the TOXC family! And to all returning runners, welcome back. Keep up the hard work from years past and you’ll be amazed to see where you’ll get!
The 2022 Captains are: Austin Simpson, Matilda Fitzgerald, Baptiste Garderes, Natalie Martinez Isaack Garcia, Sara Guy
Austin Simpson
Nickname: Atti
Favorite subject in school: English
Performance most proud of: 4th place at CIF Finals for the 1600m
I’m really good at: I’m really understanding and good at listening
Favorite quote: “A moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory”.
Hidden talent: I do motocross
When did you start running? What got you interested? What got me into running was my middle school P.E. Teacher. I was always really good at the mile but never did youth track or cross country. She saw that I had potential in running so she suggested that I try out cross country for my freshmen year.
How would you describe your experience with Thousand Oaks Cross Country? Being a part of Thousand Oaks cross country has brought me some life changing experiences. I had never run more than a mile i’m my life before joining this team and never saw myself as a potential varsity runner. I learned that as long as you put in the work and sacrifice what holds you back nothing is impossible. That’s what this team has taught me.
As a captain, what are your goals for the team going into the TOXC season? As a Captain for TOXC my main objective is to show the team that they can obtain their goals by just trusting the process. For the boys we want to either Podium at State or Win State. It can be done just as long as we believe and know that we are capable of it.
Matilda Fitzgerald
Nickname: Tilda or mj
Favorite subject in school: English
Performance Most Proud of: Alumni run 2021!
Favorite Quote: “Champions are made when no one is watching”
Hidden talent: Playing the banjo!
When did you start running? What got you interested? I joined the local youth team in 6th grade because my brother had been running for a few years, and I loved running in phys ed at school.
How would you describe your experience with Thousand Oaks Cross Country? Extremely positive. when I joined as a freshman, the team was super welcoming, and I have made some of my closest friends through TOXC.
As a captain, what are your goals for the team going into the TOXC season? To keep the girls team unified, and to focus on selflessness over selfish running.
Baptiste Garderes
Nickname: Timmy, Turnernator
Favorite Subject in school: I think it really depends on how good the teacher is, but I guess English.
Performance most proud of: Breaking 5:00 in the 1600 and 11:00 in the 3200 the same day my freshman year.
I’m really good at: Running (I am in cross country for a reason)
Favorite quote: “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” -Theodore Roosevelt
Hidden talent: I’m actually decent at singing, and I am in the school Choir.
When did you start running? What got you interested? I started running in 1st grade in youth track for the Newbury Park Panthers (I know I am evil for running with our rivals), and the only reason I joined was because my best friend was doing it.
How would you describe your experience with Thousand Oaks Cross Country? My experience with TOXC has been an amazing one. I believe that I have been able to grow a ton from my Freshman year running an 18:32 in the 3 mile to my current PR being a 15:40, and I hope to grow way more. Even though it is so cliché, all I did was trust the process, and just focused on the training each day. I believe that as long as you do that every day, you will achieve goals you never thought were possible.
As a Captain, what are your goals for the team going into the TOXC season? As a captain, I hope to bring a fun but also productive atmosphere and encourage the whole team to perform at their very best everyday. At the end of the year, I want everyone, and I mean everyone, to have had one of the most memorable years (in a good way of course) of their life.
Nickname: Kayla
Favorite Subject in school: World History
Performance most proud of: Wildwood Time Trial
I’m really good at: Speaking up and having a voice
Favorite Artist: Nelly Furtado
Hidden Talent: I can paint
When did you start running? What got you interested? I began my running journey in sixth grade when I moved to California and joined flyers. at first I was only interested in sprints but I quickly learned distance was for me. I knew very early (around elementary school) I loved running because I loved to race and run fast. PE and play time was my favorite because I loved running and being good at it.
How would you describe your experience with Thousand Oaks Cross Country? The Thousand Oaks cross country team is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. the coaches and my team is what really makes it a special program that I love being a part of. although I’ve had some unfortunate experiences, I would never leave the team. I can always count on having fun coming to practice.
As a Captain, what are your goals for the team going into the TOXC season? As captain, my main priority is helping my team strive and succeed and I don’t think they have the confidence they need to obtain the goals we set. for the girls we want to win rated at Woodbridge and go to state. These are all obtainable but we just need to dig down and be confident!
Isaack Garcia
Nickname: Tilda or mj
Favorite subject in school: English
Performance Most Proud of: Alumni run 2021!
Favorite Quote: “Champions are made when no one is watching”
Hidden talent: Playing the banjo!
When did you start running? What got you interested? I joined the local youth team in 6th grade because my brother had been running for a few years, and I loved running in phys ed at school.
How would you describe your experience with Thousand Oaks Cross Country? Extremely positive. when I joined as a freshman, the team was super welcoming, and I have made some of my closest friends through TOXC.
As a captain, what are your goals for the team going into the TOXC season? To keep the girls team unified, and to focus on selflessness over selfish running.
Sara Guy
Nickname: Atti
Favorite subject in school: English
Performance most proud of: 4th place at CIF Finals for the 1600m
I’m really good at: I’m really understanding and good at listening
Favorite quote: “A moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory”.
Hidden talent: I do motocross
When did you start running? What got you interested? What got me into running was my middle school P.E. Teacher. I was always really good at the mile but never did youth track or cross country. She saw that I had potential in running so she suggested that I try out cross country for my freshmen year.
How would you describe your experience with Thousand Oaks Cross Country? Being a part of Thousand Oaks cross country has brought me some life changing experiences. I had never run more than a mile i’m my life before joining this team and never saw myself as a potential varsity runner. I learned that as long as you put in the work and sacrifice what holds you back nothing is impossible. That’s what this team has taught me.
As a captain, what are your goals for the team going into the TOXC season? As a Captain for TOXC my main objective is to show the team that they can obtain their goals by just trusting the process. For the boys we want to either Podium at State or Win State. It can be done just as long as we believe and know that we are capable of it.
Thousand Oaks Cross Country 