Oxnard’s Rodriguez Will Attend UCSB

Gabriela Rodriguez of Oxnard High, the third-place finisher in the girls’ 3,200 meters in last year’s state track and field championships, has made an oral commitment to UC Santa Barbara.

Rodriguez chose Santa Barbara over Big West Conference rival UC Irvine.

“It was really close when it came down to making a decision,” Rodriguez said. “I liked both schools, but I just got a feeling when I was at Santa Barbara that that was where I wanted to go. The fact the ocean is right there didn’t hurt, either.”

Rodriguez has personal bests of 5 minutes 9.8 seconds in the 1,600 and 10:52.34 in the 3,200.

She placed third in the 3,200 in last year’s state finals.

In cross-country, Rodriguez finished ninth in the 1993 state Division II championships.