CSUN Signs Sprint Corps for Fast Fix

Even though the Cal State Northridge women’s track team placed sixth in the 1987 NCAA Division II championships at Cape Girardeau, Mo., the Lady Matadors displayed a glaring weakness in the sprints, where they failed to score a point.

Looking to improve, CSUN Coach Don Strametz recruited a talented group of sprinters who recently signed letters of intent to attend Northridge.

Leading the list were Phoebe Smith of Marin College in Northern California, Angela Hill of Lincoln High in Los Angeles and D’Angela Smith of Valley High in Sacramento.

Phoebe Smith, who has a personal best of 11.94 seconds in the 100 meters, this year placed fourth in the junior college state championships in the 100 and 200 meters.

Hill placed fourth in the state high school championships in the triple jump and has a personal best of 39-1 1/2.

D’Angela Smith placed seventh in the state high school championships at 400 meters with a personal best of 55.95.

The other women signees were LaTanya Canada of Castle Park High in San Diego, who placed sixth in the state high school championships in the long jump; Laural Isles of El Camino High in Oceanside, who qualified for the state championships in the 100; and Shawnette Sapp of Morse High in San Diego, who ran the first leg on Morse’s 400-meter relay team, runner-up in the state championships.

Other sprinters include Carol Collier of Santa Monica City College (12.1 for 100 meters), Alicia Bell of Fairfield High in Northern California (12.3 for 100 meters) and Mary Coleman of Irvine High (56.3 for 400 meters).

Jorge Castro of Ramona High in San Diego was CSUN’s top men’s recruit. Castro placed seventh in the 1986 state championships at 1,600 meters and won the San Diego Section 2-A cross-country championship in 1986. He has run 1:54 for 800 meters, 4:12.6 for 1,600 meters and 30:45 in a 10,000-meter road race.