SDSU Linebacker Bernard Leaves Team

Kenny Bernard, who started the second half of the 1987 season at inside linebacker for San Diego State, has quit the football team, Coach Denny Stolz said Friday.

Bernard, a 6-foot 2-inch, 220-pound senior from Patrick Henry High School, told Stolz of his decision earlier this week.

Bernard had dropped to third-team inside linebacker during spring practice and apparently had lost his starting spot to Lee Brannon, a senior who has been moved from tight end. Bernard said that although playing time was a factor in his decision, he had grown tired of football.

“It just wasn’t fun anymore,” Bernard said. “Anyone who has played football knows when it is not fun, it is time to stop.”

Bernard, a transfer from California, played little early in the season but came on to start 5 of the final 6 games. He finished 10th on the team with 65 tackles. He also had two fumble recoveries and an interception.

Bernard said he intended to remain at SDSU to complete his degree in criminal justice.

HIGH SCHOOL TRACK

And just when it looked as if defending state high jump champion Lynn Patrick of Serra High wouldn’t be challenged in San Diego County this season, Poway’s Christy Kurras comes along.

Kurras, a sophomore who was Patrick’s top local competition last season, jumped a county-best 5-feet 8-inches Thursday, an inch better than Patrick’s best this season.

The two will go head to head today when more than 45 schools will compete in the Poway Invitational track meet beginning at 9 a.m. at Poway High School.

Patrick, a junior, has been nursing an ankle injury suffered while playing club volleyball and has been unable to reach the 5-10 that won her the state title last June. She will be among a dozen San Diego athletes who will do double duty, competing at Poway in the morning and then traveling two hours to Arcadia for a meet there in the evening.

Some of San Diego’s top athletes will complete exclusively at Arcadia. Those include Kinney national cross country champion Kira Jorgensen of Rancho Buena Vista. Others are Goshu Tadese of Crawford, the county leader in the 1,600 meters; Brent Noon of Fallbrook, who leads the county in the shot put and the discus; and Kristina Hand of Fallbrook, the county 800-meter leader.

ROWING

The seventh annual San Diego City Rowing Championship Regatta will be held Sunday, April 17, at Tecolote Channel on Mission Bay.

Races for collegiate and club rowers will begin at 6:30 a.m. College crews that will be competing are San Diego State, UC San Diego and the University of San Diego.

Results from the tri-regatta will affect seeding for the Southern California Women’s Championship and the Pacific Coast Rowing Championship regattas.