Wysocki, Black Set for Steve Scott Meet

Olympians Ruth Wysocki of the United States and Roger Black of Great Britain headline the entries for the first Steve Scott/Power Bar Invitational track and field meet Saturday at UC Irvine. About 250 athletes from 30 teams are expected to compete. Field events begin at 10 a.m., running events at 11:30.

“It’s a good little meet,” Irvine Coach Vince O’Boyle said.

O’Boyle said he plans to pause during the meet to honor Scott, who became one of the nation’s top milers at Irvine in the 1970s and has run more sub four-minute miles than any American.

Wysocki, 37, is entered in the women’s 800 and 1,500 meters. O’Boyle, Wysocki’s coach, wants her to run a fast 800 in preparation for meets later this season. But that could change if Sheila Carrozza, a member of the 1993 U.S. World Championships team in the 3,000, runs the 1,500. O’Boyle would like to see Wysocki and Carrozza, entered in the 1,500 and 3,000, race head-to-head.

Wysocki was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team in the 1,500 and defeated Mary Slaney in a memorable Olympic trials final at the Coliseum. Last week, she won the 1,500 at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in 4 minutes 16 seconds.

O’Boyle first coached Wysocki when she was an 18-year-old freshman at Citrus College.

UCI sophomore Laura Monson, the Big West Conference leader in the women’s 3,000 at 9:55.49, will not run her specialty, but might join Wysocki in the 800 or 1,500.

Black, who ran the 400 meters for Britain at the Barcelona Games in 1992, is entered in the 100 and 200. Black’s countrymen, Mark Smith, Phillip Goedluck, Terry Williams, Mark McIntyre and Ayo Falola, also are entered in the 100 and 200.

The pole vault figures to be one of the meet’s best events with 19-foot jumper Dean Starkey, a member of the ’93 World Championships team, in the field. Irvine freshman Borya Orloff, with a best of 16 feet 9 1/2, and Long Beach State’s Jason Hinkin (17-1) also are entered.