SportsScope : Azusa’s Bruiser of a Running Back Tries for School Record

Azusa Pacific University (1-0-1) is hoping that its game at Whittier College (1-1) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday will be one for the record book.

Senior running back Christian Okoye, 6-3 and 250 pounds, needs only 91 yards rushing to break Azusa Pacific’s career mark of 2,147 set by Rod Martin in 1981. Okoye has rushed for 258 yards and two touchdowns in two games this season.

If Okoye’s performance resembles his effort against Whittier last year, smashing the record will not be a problem. Okoye rushed for 206 yards and four touchdowns in 17 carries to lead the Cougars to a 37-12 triumph.

Azusa Pacific defeated La Verne, 27-9, in its opener and tied Occidental, 20-20, last week.

The defense has been sharp in both games. allowing only one touchdown rushing and one passing.

Perhaps the top player has been defensive back Andre Cheeks (6-0, 200), a transfer from Iowa State who has three interceptions, one for a touchdown.

The defense, which has seven interceptions, also features linebackers Tim Klaiber (6-0, 180) and Jeff Gustin (6-1, 220), a talented freshman from Charter Oak High in Covina.

In other games Saturday, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (1-0) hosts Menlo (2-0) and Pomona-Pitzer (1-0) visits UC Santa Barbara (1-1) at 1:30 p.m. and La Verne (1-1) visits Occidental (0-1-1) at 7:30 p.m.

Off to one of its best starts, the Cal State Los Angeles women’s volleyball team will take an 8-2 record into the Regis College Classic on Friday and Saturday at Denver.

Cal State’s victory total is already better than last year, when the Golden Eagles finished 6-20. They won six games last week, including a surprise over Cal Poly Pomona, and finished fourth in the 16-team La Verne Tournament. Pomona is ranked No. 10 in NCAA Division II.

“We did all right, better than I thought we would,” Coach Pete Velasco said.

The Golden Eagles could face their strongest challenge at Regis from the host school, ranked No. 8 in Division II.

The Cal Poly Pomona women’s cross-country team will compete against several of the top colleges on the West Coast when it plays host to the Green & Gold Invitational 5-K Meet at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

UC Irvine, UCLA and Cal State Long Beach will compete.

The Broncos turned in a strong performance in the UC Riverside Invitational last week, finishing fifth behind Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UC Irvine, UCLA and Arizona.

Leading the way was senior Joann Howard, who broke her school record in the 5-K with a second-place time of 17:06.4. “She’s rounding into shape, which gives us a positive feeling for the rest of the season,” Coach John Turek said.

Other top performers for the Broncos were Sherrie Roach, who had a 17:58.7, and Trisha Molina, who posted 18:23.8.

The Pomona men’s team, which finished third in the Riverside five-mile meet last week, will compete in two meets this week. The Broncos will run in the Aztec Invitational 10-K meet at 9:15 a.m. Saturday in San Diego and then in the Green & Gold on Sunday.

The Broncos were led at Riverside by All-American junior Eddie Toro, who placed sixth in 24:37, and senior Mike Parker, who finished 13th in 25:01.

Darryl Brown, coach of Chaffey High last year, has been named an assistant for the Cal Poly Pomona men’s basketball team, Coach George Fisher announced.

Brown is Pomona’s second full-time assistant, along with Bruce Victor. A resident of Montclair, Brown’s coaching career started at East Waterloo High in Iowa in 1974. He has also coached at Los Pinos in Lake Elsinore, Dana Hills in Dana Point and Montclair from 1983-85.

Brown will also coordinate the school’s Bronco Academic Network, which assists athletes with studies, and assist with scouting and recruiting.

Two defending CIF Southern Section champions will be in Mayfield High of Pasadena’s 37th annual Girls Invitational Tennis Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

The top title prospects are perennial power San Marino, which won the CIF 3-A Division title last year, and Mayfield, which won 1-A.

Other teams in the tournament are Chadwick of Palos Verdes, Pasadena Poly and Westridge of Pasadena--all CIF playoff participants last season--and South Pasadena.

Individual finals will start at 3 p.m. Saturday and consolation finals at 1.