Williamson to Run for New Mexico

Mike Williamson of Thousand Oaks High, runner-up in last year’s state Division I cross-country championships, has made an oral commitment to attend New Mexico in the fall.

Williamson chose the Albuquerque campus over USC and Northern Arizona.

“I really like the surrounding area and the places where they train,” said Williamson, who will receive a three-quarter athletic scholarship. “The altitude was also a major factor in my decision.”

Training at high altitude developes a runner’s cardiovascular capacity more than training at low altitude. Albuquerque is 4,958 feet above sea level.

After running 4 minutes, 22.7 seconds in the 1,600 meters and 9:20.94 in the 3,200 as a junior, Williamson had a superb senior cross-country campaign.

He won the team sweepstakes race of the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational, won the Southern Section 4-A Division title, placed second in the state championships and finished 16th at the Kinney national championships.

Jamie Carroll of Hart High has accepted a grant in aid to play football at the University of Pennsylvania of the Ivy League. Carroll (5-10, 170) was an All-Foothill League safety who also led the team in punt and kick returns.

Steve Smith, a quarterback-defensive back for El Camino Real High last season, has signed to play football at Cal State Sacramento. He was recruited to play defense.

The North Hollywood High baseball team was decimated by academic ineligibility before the season, reducing the roster to 10 players. If all goes as expected, however, Duane Braxton and pitcher Scott Rogers will return as early as today. Braxton was a first-team All-East Valley League selection after batting .388 last year as a sophomore.

Mitchell Butler of Oakwood High was one of five players selected to the Prep All-State Team by California Basketball magazine.

Also selected were Calvin Byrd of St. Joseph Alameda, Ed O’Bannon of Artesia, Harold Miner of Inglewood and Tracy Murray of Glendora.

Toni Gutierrez, a softball pitcher for Canyon High, has signed a letter of intent to attend Florida State. Gutierrez is 3-6 with 93 strikeouts and an 0.31 earned-run average in 59 1/3 innings.