Numbers Work Against CSUN Track Teams

If the Cal State Northridge men’s and women’s track teams are going to match last year’s top-10 finishes in the NCAA Division II championships, the Matadors will need superb performances from a handful of qualified athletes starting today at Angelo State’s Multipurpose Sports Complex in San Angelo, Tex.

Last year, five Northridge athletes combined for 20 points in men’s events as the Matadors tied UC Davis and Northwest Missouri State for eighth place.

This year, however, only five Matadors have qualified for the Division II meet in individual events, along with the 1,600-meter relay team.

The Lady Matadors placed sixth in 1987 as six Northridge athletes combined for 47 points in seven events. But this year, only five Northridge women have qualified in individual events, along with the 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams.

But despite its limited numbers, Northridge does possess one advantage over last year’s squad in that four runners, led by sophomore Darcy Arreola, have qualified in two or more events, thereby increasing CSUN’s chances for points.

Arreola, runner-up in the 800 and 1,500 meters in 1987, will run the 1,500 and 3,000. She also qualified in the 800 but will not compete in that event.

“We’ve been gearing for two races the whole year,” Northridge Coach Don Strametz said. “And that’s what she’ll run.”

Arreola won all three events at the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. championships May 8 and is the favorite in both the 1,500 and the 3,000.

In the men’s meet, senior Vaughan Kastor will run in only the 800, although he also qualified in the 1,500.

Kastor, a former standout at Chaminade, holds the Northridge 800 school record of 1:49.79.

Tyrone Jeffries will run in the 110-meter high hurdles and the 400-meter intermediates and Kevin Hendrix will see double duty in the 200- and 400-meter dashes.

Jeffries is the Matadors’ only returning Division II All-American and will team with Hendrix, Chris Fisher and Mike McGee on the all-sophomore 1,600 relay.

Freshman Dave Swanson and senior Dan Lange are entered in the high jump and hammer throw, respectively.

Lange, the two-time defending CCAA champion, will try to improve upon his 10th-place NCAA finish in 1987.

All-American Lolita Pile returns for Northridge in the women’s triple jump.

Other Lady Matadors qualifiers are Heather Brookes (10,000), Dwana Farr (100 low hurdles), Robin Stinson (400 hurdles) and the 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams.