Northridge Sweeps WAC’s Top Awards

Cal State Northridge’s Scia Maumausolo has been selected Western Athletic Conference player of the year and also chosen to the All-West Region team as a utility player.

Maumausolo, a catcher, was one of five Matadors earning all-conference honors.

Other All-WAC selections included Northridge pitchers Kathy Blake-Small and Jennifer Richardson. Second-team selections included Jennifer Parker and Chelo Lopez.

Blake-Small, who has won at least 20 games in three consecutive seasons, made the All-Region second team.

First-year Coach Janet Sherman, who guided Northridge to a 41-15 overall record, was selected WAC coach of the year.

The Matadors, who won 22 of 27 conference games, won their third consecutive conference title.

Track and Field

Regina Jacobs of the Mizuno Track Club, the 1995 World Indoor champion in the 1,500 meters, tops the list of entrants in the asics Twilight Distance Classic Friday night at Birmingham High.

Jacobs, a 1981 graduate of the Argyll Academy (now Campbell Hall High), ranks third on the all-time United States list in the 1,500 with a time 4 minutes 0.46 seconds, but will run the 800 in the invitational portion of the meet that starts at 7:30 p.m.

The NCAA-open division will be held Saturday night, starting at 7:30.

Jacobs, 31, will attempt to lower her meet record of 2:01.71 in the 800 when she runs against a field that includes Alisa Hill of the Foot Locker Athletic Club and former Cal State Northridge standout Darcy Arreola of Nike Coast.

In other events, Sarah Thornsett of Nike North is one of three entrants in the women’s 1,500 who have run under 4:12 and Trina Painter of the New Balance Track Club has a personal best of 15:41.46 in the 5,000.

The 1,500 appears to be the most-talented field in the men’s meet. Five entrants have run 3:41.11 or faster, topped by the 3:39.23 of Tim Pitcher of Athletes in Action.

Contributing: John Ortega, Bryan Rodgers.