PLNC Sweeps District Cross-Country Titles

Point Loma Nazarene College swept the men’s and women’s NAIA District 3 Cross-Country Championships Saturday in La Mirada, and they did so in grand style.

The women, who tied Westmont with 38 points, were led by senior Vanessa Couch. She set a championship record with a mark of 18 minutes 6 seconds on the 3.1-mile course. She erased the 1983 record 18:09 by Notre Dame’s Barbara Gaenslen.

The victory was a breakthrough for PLNC, which had lost to Westmont by two points in 1989, and six points in 1990.

Anette Ronnerman clocked 19:00 to finish fifth in the women’s race, and Melissa Mabe (19:08) was eighth.

The men had seven runners in the top 11 to win their third consecutive district title, beating second-place Azusa Pacific by 51 points. PLNC, ranked ninth nationally in the NAIA, was led by winner Robert Keter (25:37) on the 5.0-mile course. Scott Lardner (25:40) took second, Bryan Wallbank (25:47) fourth, Ken Hall (26:05) seventh, Kenneth Jansson (26:19) ninth, Doug Ravasdy (26:55) 10th, and Gus Arce (27:00) 11th.

Both teams compete in two weeks at the NAIA National Championships in Kenosha, Wis.

UC San Diego’s men finished third and the women fifth at the California College Athletic Assn. Championships at UC Riverside. The men were led by Samuel Gwynn, who placed 17th at 26 minutes, 20 seconds over the five-mile course. Erin Adams led the UCSD women with a 18:50 clocking over five kilometers.

Former Fallbrook High standout Kristina Hand, who runs for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, placed first at 17:11.

Portland’s men swept the first six positions and seven of the top eight to win the West Coast Conference Championships in San Francisco. University of San Diego finished sixth out of eight teams and was led by Robert Ertwine (37:34), who took 22nd on the 10-kilometer course. USD’s women finished last as Portland won that race as well.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING

UC Irvine scored a 182-106 nonconference victory over visiting USD. Molly McGlennen led the Toreras with victories in the 50 freestyle (26.14) and 100 freestyle (57.09).

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Cal State Dominguez Hills (15-4-1) got two first-half goals, outshot visiting UCSD 26-3, and scored a 2-0 nonconference victory over the Tritons. UCSD, third ranked nationally in Division III, dropped to 13-1-2.

TENNIS

Tom Gullikson scored semifinal victories in both singles and doubles in the $65,000 Prudential Securities Grand Champions tournament for players 35 and older at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club.

Gullikson, seeded first in the singles, defeated third-seeded Brian Teacher, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Gullikson will face Harold Solomon, a 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3) winner over Peter Fleming, in today’s 2 p.m. finals.

In doubles, Gullikson teamed with his twin brother Tim for a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Bob Lutz and Marty Riessen. Sandy Mayer and Fleming defeated Sherwood Stewart and Teacher, 6-1, 6-1, in the other semifinal.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Julie Fabian passed for 45 assists to help UC San Diego defeat Westmont College, 15-2, 15-13, 17-15.

Vikki Van Duyne had 16 kills and and 15 digs, and Elizabeth Tan added 12 kills for UCSD (22-5), which is top-ranked in Division III. Westmont fell to 18-7.

Point Loma Nazarene got by Cal Baptist, 15-8, 15-4, 15-11, behind 14 kills from Robin Rabello. PLNC improved to 13-15, 4-8 in the Golden State Athletic Conference, and Cal Baptist fell to 10-13, 2-10.

Santa Clara had four players in double figures for kills as it edged University of San Diego, 18-16, 15-5, 19-17.

Shawna Jones led the way with 18 kills and Santa Clara teammate Lia Young added 17. For USD (14-11, 4-5 in the West Coact Conference), Jennifer Lofftus had 13 kills. Santa Clara improved to 18-9, 6-3.