Aftereffects of CCAA Course Derail Northridge Runner in West Regional

Don Strametz made a prediction two weeks ago and, unfortunately for at least one of his runners, he was right on target.

The Cal State Northridge cross-country coach expressed concern over the choice of Bonelli Regional County Park as the site of the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. championships.

Strametz contended that a 5-mile race over the rigorous course would take its toll a week later at the Division II West regional championships that were run Saturday at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

He was right.

Jorge Castro of CSUN, the Matadors’ Division II All-American, strained his lower back at the CCAA meet and placed a disappointing 70th in the regional.

“Nobody is more disappointed than Jorge,” Strametz said. “He was really looking forward to going back to nationals and improving on what he did last year.”

Castro, eighth in last year’s West regional, earned All-American honors when he placed 26th in last year’s Division II championships in Evansville, Ind.

This time he didn’t even qualify.