On a cool, overcast day in Fresno, local runners brought their best against the best.

Several locals had strong showings at the CIF State Cross Country Championships last Saturday at Woodward Park’s 5-kilometer course.

The Royal High boys’ team and Oak Park’s Melissa Skiba came closest to winning titles, but no area team or individual finished on top.

La Reina made it to the podium for the third straight year, clinching third place in the Division 4 race. The Regents won a state title last season, and were third in 2007.

Oaks Park’s girls were fifth in the Division 3 event.

Simi Valley’s Liberty Miller, Kelly Upson of Royal, Camarillo’s Heyden Wooff, Kevin Joerger of Thousand Oaks and Viewpoint’s Nicki Maslan competed as individuals.

Royal entered the Division 1 boys’ race as a formidable threat to win it all, but finished second to a familiar foe, Dana Hills.

The Highlanders also settled for second to Dana Hills during the CIF-Southern Section Finals on Nov. 21.

Royal led after the first mile of the state race, but the Dolphins surged during the second leg and never looked back. Dana Hills has won three straight team titles.

“Through the long haul they’ve been able to endure a lot of changes in the races,” Royal head coach Ryan Luce said.

“The kids did very well at state. Some were disappointed in finishing second. Had they not done what they accomplished, we wouldn’t have been second. It was that close.”

Travis Edwards paced the Highlanders by finishing sixth among individuals in 15 minutes and 18 seconds.

Teammates Sean Davidson (10th), Korey Yoakum (25th), Paul Jesson (46th) and Nico Gervasoni (73rd) aided Edwards.

Colin Keane and Christian Garza also ran for Royal.

Royal’s season continues Saturday at the Nike Cross Nationals Championship in Portland, Ore.

“Our goal is to do the best we can and keep it simple,” Luce said of the Highlanders’ trip up north. “It sounds cliché; simple works out best.”

Skiba finished second in the Division 3 girls’ race, clocking in at 17:36. The senior finished two seconds behind state champion Rebecca Mehra of Palos Verdes, who finished in 17:34.

“It was a great, competitive race,” said Oak Park head coach Kevin Smith on the battle between Skiba and Mehra. “They went back and forth.”

Smith was pleased with Skiba’s stellar performance.

“She rises up every time there’s a championship race,” the coach said of his senior. “She’s so competitive; you always know what you’re going to get.”

Oak Park finished fifth in the Division 3 team championship.

Skiba, who will also compete at the Nike Nationals in Oregon, was not the only Eagle to deliver a solid performance.

Teammate Kaycee Holcomb was sixth overall in 18:14. Smith said Holcomb, a junior, has made huge strides in the past month.

“Her improvement . . . has been staggering,” Smith said of Holcomb. “She’s leapfrogged outstanding runners.”

Holcomb will compete Saturday at the Foot Locker West Regional race at Mount San Antonio College.

La Reina’s girls had a great finish in a deep Division 4 field.

The Regents were third overall with 137 points. HarvardWestlake finished first, followed by Serra in second.

Harvard-Westlake’s team time of 95:36 is the best state finish for a Division 4 team.

“I’m impressed that they never give up,” La Reina head coach Robert Lopez said of his runners. “They keep on pushing and supporting each other 100 percent.”

Senior Sarah Pearson led La Reina by placing sixth individually in 18:26.

Sophomore Rachel Brajkovich was 13th overall for La Reina, finishing in 18:49. Katie Kavetsky (41st), Mary Thompson (67th), Lauren Hearne (83rd), Kelly Reinke (119th) and Gabby Lowry (122nd) also ran for the Regents.

La Reina ran hard until the end, despite missing No. 3 runner Tara Blanchard due to a stress fracture in her leg. Hearne was injured for roughly a month before returning strong at the section and state meets.

Miller of Simi Valley had a solid performance in the Division 1 race. Miller was seventh in 17:55. Royal’s Upson was 44th.

Wooff was part of the front pack after the first mile and finished fifth individually in the Division 2 boys’ race. The Scorpion clocked in at 15:12.

A lower back injury from the end of last season stymied Wooff’s efforts to make a final push with the pack.

“At the last half mile I tried to go with them, but I couldn’t,” Wooff said. “I was at my max. I was in a lot of pain, and I couldn’t do anything.

“Considering my back was hurting, I was happy and glad I got fifth. But it just stinks that it had to be one of the races it hurt the worst this year. My coaches were telling me no one runs their best every race. You’re bound to have a bad race sometimes. It was one of those days.”

Wooff’s season continues at the western regional at Mt. SAC Saturday. He hopes to qualify for the national event the following weekend at San Diego.

Joerger of TOHS finished 17th in Division 2.