PLNC Women Run to Victory, Make Nationals

For the first time since 1981, the Point Loma Nazarene women’s cross-country team won the NAIA District III championship with a convincing performance Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Sophomore Eva Lindblad was the top finisher for PLNC, placing fifth over the 5,000-meter course in 20 minutes 0.4 seconds. Freshman Tonya Russell was seventh in 20:22.3, freshman Vanessa Couch was 11th in 20:40.5, and senior Amanda Houlton placed 12th in 20:59.9.

PLNC, which advanced to the national finals Nov. 19 in Kenosha, Wis., had 46 points, 30 points ahead of runner-up Cal Lutheran. Coach Jim Crakes was named District III coach of the year.

In the men’s race, PLNC freshman Ronny Andersson covered the 8,000-meter course in 25:56.1 to win the individual race, and freshman Goshu Tadese placed third in 26:06.8. Cal Lutheran won the team title to advance to the national finals in the closest race ever, with 47 points to 48 for Westmont and 50 for PLNC.

Andersson and Tadese qualified to compete in the national finals as individuals.

BASKETBALL

Athletes in Action (2-4) defeated Pepperdine, 95-75, stopping a 3-game losing streak.

Former San Diego State players Anthony Watson and Zack Jones led San Diego-based AIA with 31 and 23 points.

SOCCER

University of San Diego midfielder Vince Bianci broke a 4-4 tie by kicking the winning goal in a shootout against CS Los Angeles in the second round of the USIU Soccer Classic.

After regulation and overtime, USD (9-7-2) won the shootout, 4-3, after CSLA (9-9-2) missed its first kick and USD made its first four.

The tournament ends today with U.S. International playing USD at 1 p.m. USIU’s women play UCLA at 11 a.m.

WATER POLO

No. 2-ranked UC Los Angeles (25-3) defeated No. 8 UC San Diego, 10-6, in UCSD’s final regular-season game. Dave Calder, Jason Brown and Tom Schatz scored twice each for the Tritons (18-11), who begin postseason play in the Western Water Polo Assn. at the Air Force Academy Friday.

GOLF

The Century Club Matches, formerly the Hine Cup Matches, opened with the amateurs taking a 27-18 lead over the pros.

Pros Chris Starkjohnn and Scott Bentley defeated Robert Desjardins and Jim Myers, 6-3; pros Scott Mahlberg and Phil Machamer tied Jerry Maichals and Jim Sunderman at 4 1/2; amateurs Tom Duncan and Randy Reznicek defeated Cesar Sanudo and Fred Wood, 7 1/2-1 1/2; amateurs Darryl Miller and Dan Howard defeated Tommy Jackson and Walt Willows, 9-0; and pros Jerry Glaser and Bob Hitzel defeated Clark Renner and Pat Duncan, 6-3.

The finals begin today at 8 a.m. at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Course.