College Roundup : CSUN Men Place 6th in Cross-Country Meet

As a freshman, Sasha Vujic was Cal State Northridge’s most versatile distance runner.

The 1988 graduate of Burroughs High placed second in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. track championships in the 10,000 meters, set school records in that event as well as in the 5,000 and, for good measure, moved to third on the school’s all-time freshman list in the 1,500.

On Saturday, Vujic picked up in cross-country where he left off in track, placing 13th in the Fresno Invitational at Woodward Park.

Vujic timed 32 minutes, 5 seconds over the 10,000-meter course, leading Northridge to a sixth-place finish in the team standings with 163 points. Arizona, led by winner Marc Davis (31:16.3), won the team title with 52 points, ahead of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (76) and UC Irvine (83).

Sophomore Kelly Tremmell, a transfer from Humboldt State, led Northridge to a seventh-place finish in the women’s division. Tremmell clocked 18:37 over the 5,000-meter course to place 17th.

Bridgette Stirling won in 17:25, leading UC Irvine to the team title with 21 points. Cal placed second with 90 points and UC Davis took third.

Northridge Coach Don Strametz had mixed emotions about his team’s performances.

“Our first three men ran very well,” Strametz said. “They displayed a lot of teamwork. They didn’t back down from some good people and that’s important, especially in their first race of the season.

“But the women were very timid. I would have hoped for a little bit more from them at this juncture. They’re a little too laid-back.”

Freshman Jorge Rodriguez and junior Jorge Castro were Northridge’s second and third runners, placing 25th (32:30) and 27th (32:32). They were followed by Jeff Gilkey (53rd in 33:23) and Erick McBride (64th in 34:01).

In the women’s race, Gena Jauregui was among the early leaders, but she took a wrong turn on the course--costing her about 15 places, according to Strametz--and finished 31st in 19:12.

Laura Doering (33rd in 19:21), Megan Warner (37th in 19:31) and Evie Berry (38th in 19:36) rounded out the Lady Matadors’ scoring.

WATER POLO

De Anza 12, Valley 5--Despite two goals by Tony Pino, Valley fell in the championship game of the Mt. San Antonio College tournament.

Pino and teammate Dave Scott each scored in a 6-5 semifinal win over Citrus earlier in the day.

MEN’S SOCCER

The Master’s 3, Evergreen (Wash.) State 2--The Mustangs finished in seventh place in the Fresno Sunbird tournament.