Orange County Roundup : UC Irvine Track Teams Open With Tri-Meet

The UC Irvine men’s and women’s track and field teams open the 1987 season today with a tri-meet against USC and Cal Poly Pomona at Anteater Stadium. Field events begin at 11:30 a.m., with the first running event scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

UCI is strong in the distance events. Senior Ralph Garibaldi is the defending Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. champion in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters, and junior Gus Quinonez is the defending conference 10,000-meter champion.

Junior Marc Goulet was the 1986 conference runner-up at 800 meters, and senior Mark Guest was the 1985 conference runner-up at 800 meters before redshirting last year.

The strength of the women’s team also is in the distance events, as the Anteaters have won four straight PCAA cross-country titles. Junior Beth McGrann, who placed ninth in the NCAA 5,000 meters last year, and junior Jill Harrington, an NCAA qualifier in the 1,500 meters, return to lead Irvine.

The Cal State Fullerton men’s gymnastics team, ranked third in the nation, will play host to 18th-ranked Stanford Sunday at 2 p.m. at Fullerton. The meet was originally scheduled for Feb. 27.

It will be the third time the teams have met this season but the first time in a duel meet. Fullerton won the San Jose and UC Davis Invitationals, defeating the Cardinal each time.

Fullerton is led by senior Li Xiao Ping, who leads the nation with the highest scoring average on the pommel horse (9.82). He is fourth in the nation on the rings (9.67).

Southern California Over-The-Line Softball is accepting teams for the third annual Presidents Cup Grass Tournament, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at Anaheim’s Magnolia High School.

Entry fee is $24 per team, with all teams in men’s and women’s divisions guaranteed at least four games. To reserve a spot in the tournament, call (213) 630-2298.

The Ortega Equestrian Center in San Juan Capistrano will be the site of the fifth annual San Juan Capistrano Championship Team Penning Event March 7-8.

This year’s event, which begins at 8 a.m. March 7 at 27252 Calle Arroyo, will benefit the Orange County Riding Center, a therapeutic horseback riding program for disabled children and adults in Orange County.

The event, sanctioned by the Professional Team Penning Assn., drew 120 teams from throughout the Western United States last year. For more information, call 661-3130.