UC IRVINE NOTEBOOK / MIKE REILLEY : Mom’s Illness Gives Nielsen an Edge

Mike Nielsen runs hard every race, but he had a little extra inspiration last week at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays.

Nielsen’s mother, Rita, attended the meet, her first since undergoing surgery for brain cancer April 2.

She watched her son finish fifth in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14 minutes 26.26 seconds, trimming 44 seconds off his personal best set last year at the Big West championships.

Nielsen also won his heat in the 1,500 in 3:48.55, four seconds faster than his personal best. Both times are the best in the Big West this season.

It was an emotional moment for Nielsen, his family and for UC Irvine Coach Vince O’Boyle.

“It was great to have my mom back out there,” Nielsen said. “She’s a very strong, determined person.”

Nielsen said his mother was diagnosed about three weeks ago, just before he left for the Fresno Relays. Doctors immediately scheduled surgery.

“It’s pretty serious,” Nielsen said, “but she’s doing a lot better right now. She was out of the hospital just a few days after the surgery.

“It has been a hard time on everyone, but she has made it easy on everyone because her attitude is so positive.”

Nielsen, a former Mater Dei standout, has dedicated each race he runs to his mother, including this weekend’s Nike Irvine Invitational. He plans to compete in a combination of the 800, 1,500 or 5,000 meters.

The women’s competition is Saturday, with the field events at 10 a.m. and the running events at noon. The men’s competition will be Sunday with a 10 a.m. start for the field events and a noon start for running events.

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O’Boyle said Irvine track and cross-country supporters have raised nearly $15,000 for the men’s program next year, about halfway to their goal of $30,000 to $35,000.

O’Boyle said no deadline has been set for reaching the goal and remains hopeful that the boosters will meet it. One former athlete recently donated $1,000 and another $500.

“There have been a lot of people saying our programs are in jeopardy,” O’Boyle said. “That’s nonsense, especially on the women’s side (where there are no cuts). We’re getting help there from gender equity.

“Our administration has completely supported track, and they’re not putting any pressure on us.”

Irvine announced last May it was eliminating men’s track and field, cross-country and baseball because of budget problems and gender equity concerns. In June, the university re-established the men’s track and cross-country teams as long as volunteers could raise $35,000 by August 1992 and an additional $70,000 by December.

Track supporters missed the December deadline, and the $70,000 goal was lowered to $30,000 because the program cut personnel and operating expenses.

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The men’s basketball team has tentatively scheduled Iowa, Georgetown and Utah as nonconference opponents for next season.

The Anteaters are scheduled for games at Utah on Nov. 30, at Georgetown Dec. 18 and will play host to Iowa at the Bren Center on Dec. 29. Contracts between the schools have yet to be signed.

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The men’s tennis team will defend its Big West title this weekend at Ojai while the women’s team looks to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish.

The men’s team, 11-11 and ranked 24th nationally, has won eight of the last 10 conference titles.

Senior Aaron Stolpman (10-13) is seeded fourth in Flight 1 singles and top-seeded with partner Chris Tontz for Flight 1 doubles. Tontz and Stolpman are 11-10 this season.

Junior Jennifer Wall, winner of seven of her last eight matches, leads the women’s team, which is seeded fifth and will face fourth-seeded Hawaii in the opening match at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

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Former Irvine baseball Coach Mike Gerakos has scheduled four week-long instructional camps this summer at the Anteaters’ field. The camps are open to players ages 6-13 and will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Dates for the camps are June 28-July 2, July 12-16, July 19-23 and July 26-30. The entry fee is $225 per player and includes lunch. Contact Gerakos at 786-4495 for more information.

Notes

The Irvine Athletic Foundation membership drive will begin with a reception at 5:30 tonight at the Irvine Marriott. Donations will go to Anteater athletic scholarships and operations. Actor Billy Barty is the featured speaker for the reception.

Senior Yvonne Catala was named the women’s basketball team’s MVP at a weekend banquet. Catala, a forward from College Station, Tex., led the team in scoring for the third consecutive year with a 15.8 average. Sophomore Michelle Kahler was named the team’s best defensive player while freshmen Tamera Thomas and Tammy Carter earned the most improved awards. Freshman Davette Williams won the most improved award.

Volleyball player Chad Milling needs two block assists to move into second place on the school’s single-season chart. Milling has 75 entering tonight’s match at Cal State Northridge, one shy of second-place Steve Florentine and 14 away from the record set by Scott Recknor in 1989. Milling already has the school record for career block assists with 198 in three seasons.