Irvine Valley Shares Title, but Gets the Trophy

Irvine Valley College tied Mt. San Antonio for the women’s state cross-country championship Saturday at Sierra College in Rocklin, but Irvine Valley went home with the trophy.

Both teams finished with 82 points. There is no rule for breaking ties at the state meet, but Mt. SAC Coach Don Ruh gave the trophy to Irvine Valley because its fifth runner, Angela Chavez, finished 31st in 19 minutes 31 seconds, two places ahead of the Mounties’ fifth runner.

Sue Davis, 29, Irvine Valley’s top runner, finished eighth, completing the three-mile course in 18:26, 1:10 behind winner Jean Harvey of Antelope Valley. Three other Irvine Valley runners finished in the top 20: Karrie Ferguson (10th in 18:38 after falling and scraping her knee in the final mile); Stacey Skeie (16th in 18:51) and Marilyn Ganahl (17th in 18:52).

Bill and Julie Leach, co-coaches at Irvine Valley, were named Orange Empire Conference coaches of the year.