San Diego Sports Et cetera : Jorgensen Wins Cross-Country Race

Kira Jorgensen, a junior at Rancho Buena Vista High, won the Kinney Western Regional cross-country race Saturday at Fresno’s Woodward Park in 17 minutes 20 seconds. She is one of eight girls who advance to next Saturday’s Kinney National race at San Diego’s Balboa Park.

A year ago, Jorgensen placed fourth in the national race and was the highest underclass finisher.

Jorgensen ran the 5,000-meter course six seconds faster than Agoura freshman Deena Drossin, who was second. Jorgensen and Drossin exchanged the lead throughout the race until Jorgensen pulled away in the final 600 yards.

“This was the toughest race of the year for me,” Jorgensen said.

The Hesperia High tandem of Nichole Robbins (17:29) and Robbyn Bryant (17:30) placed third and fourth, respectively.

In the boys’ race, Crawford’s Goshu Tadese, San Diego’s top hopeful, had to drop out after 2 1/2 miles. Tadese, a senior, complained of dizziness. He was in fifth place at the time he dropped out and was moving up.

San Pasqual junior Francis O’Neill placed ninth in 15:25. He is the first alternate for next week’s championship in case one of the top eight finishers is unable to run. That could happen, because top-finisher Ian Alsen of Granada Hills (15:02) is scheduled to run in the Los Angeles City meet Saturday. The decision of where Alsen will run will be made Monday.

Other San Diego finishers included Jason Salber of University of San Diego High, who placed 28th in 15:45; Kristi Bache of USDHS finished 12th in 18:07 and Michelle Keim of San Pasqual placed 43rd in 19:11.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Second-seeded Grossmont College (20-2) defeated Santa Rosa 5-15, 15-4, 15-10, 15-2, and Pasadena College 15-4, 15-6, 15-4, in the state championship tournament at Cypress College. Grossmont will play top-seeded Golden West today in a match of undefeated teams in the winner’s bracket. The winner advances to the final of the double elimination tournament.

Karen Taeatafa had 21 kills and Leanna Hebert had 16 kills in the two matches for Grossmont. Karen Burley had six blocks.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Sonya Carter scored 29 points to lead United States International University to a 85-74 victory over Bradley in the consolation of the Lady Diamond women’s basketball tournament at Gary, Ind.

USIU (3-1) led by 11 at the half and 20 early in the second half before Bradley rallied to close the gap to 64-63 with seven minutes remaining.

Carter hit a baseline shot and Daisy Mendes made a layup to put USIU ahead 68-63.

Mandy Spry had 16 points for USIU and Mendes added 14.

Claremont defeated UC San Diego 72-65 in a nonconference game at Claremont. Tracy Ragatz and Michelle Leohner had 17 points apiece for UCSD (2-4). Claremont is 5-1.

MEN’S TENNIS

University of San Diego’s Scott Patridge, the top seed, defeated teammate and third-seeded David Stewart 6-0, 7-6 in the final of the San Diego All-College Tournament at USD.

Russell Meyers and Julio Noriega of San Diego State will play Stewart and Patridge in the doubles final Monday at 2:30 p.m.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Bill Gerlach scored 19 points to lead UC San Diego past Menlo College, 74-70, for third place in the Redlands Tournament. UCSD (4-2) led, 32-29, at the half. Menlo (3-4) was led by Phil Campenella’s 15 points.