UCI’s Goodrich Injured, She’ll Miss Big West Championships

Traci Goodrich, UC Irvine’s top runner in three of four meets this season, will miss today’s Big West Conference cross-country championships at New Mexico State because of a sprained left knee, the school announced Friday.

Goodrich, a sophomore, sustained the injury during a light workout Thursday and did not accompany the team to Las Cruces, N.M. Goodrich finished fourth in last year’s conference meet.

Junior Kim Espinoza, a transfer from Glendale College, will take Goodrich’s place on the seven-member squad. Espinoza’s best finish was 27th at the UC Riverside Invitational Sept. 28.

The Anteaters, ranked 11th nationally, have dominated the conference meet. Irvine has won seven of eight team championships, losing only to Fresno State in 1988. Irvine runners have won all the individual titles.

The Cal State Fullerton women’s team, which placed third last season, is led by freshman Heather Killeen, who is expected to finish among the top 10.

On the men’s side, Irvine is seeking its third consecutive title and sixth in the past seven years. Like the women, the Anteater men have not lost to a conference opponent all season. Their top runner is senior Aaron Mascorro, who finished second in 1989 but was redshirted last year.

The Titan men’s team, which finished fifth in 1990, is led by junior Steve Frisone.