UC IRVINE TRACK INVITATIONAL : Wysocki Sticks to Her Schedule for Barcelona

Ruth Wysocki’s come-from-behind victory in the women’s 1,500 meters highlighted the UC Irvine Track and Field Invitational Saturday at UC Irvine.

Saturday’s race was the fourth in Wysocki’s comeback bid. She qualified for the ’84 Olympics in the 800 and 1,500 but was suspended by the The Athletics Congress in fall of 1988 for participating in three unsanctioned meets in South Africa.

After three years of appeals, her eligibility was reinstated Jan. 1.

Wysocki, who finished eighth in the 1,500 at the ’84 Olympics, passed Darcy Arreola on the backstretch of the bell lap Saturday to finish in 4 minutes 15.3 seconds.

Arreola, a former Cal State Northridge runner who qualified for the ’91 World Championships in the 1,500, finished second in 4:17.4.

Wysocki won the 1,500 at the ’84 U.S. Olympic trials and hopes to qualify for the Olympics in Barcelona.

“After I turned 35, I didn’t want to sit and think, ‘What if I could have made it to the Olympics one more time?’ ” Wysocki said. “The top times in the 1,500 haven’t progressed much since ’84. Right now I know I can run with anyone.”

In team competition, Irvine swept the titles with the men outscoring second-place Air Force, 340 1/2-301. The Irvine women’s team finished with 260 points, ahead of second-place Weber State’s 183.

Marieke Veltman won the long jump, and 100 and 200 meters to lead the Irvine women. Sean O’Leary won the 800 meters in a personal-best 1:51.1 for the men.