Straight-Arrow Huish Leads U.S. Olympic Archery Trials

Justin Huish of Simi Valley is in first place midway through the United States Olympic trials in men’s archery at El Dorado Park in Long Beach.

Huish, 20, placed third Saturday among 16 competitors in the first round and won the second round, giving him four ranking points--one ahead of Rod White.

The top eight archers after today’s third and fourth rounds qualify for a series of six competitions that will determine the United States’ three-man team in Atlanta in 1996.

“He’s in there so well, there’s no way he’ll be out [of the top eight],” said assistant coach Lloyd Brown.

Huish won the second round with a center-of-the-X bull’s-eye in a one-arrow shoot-off against Lonnie King of Flint, Mich.

Boxing

Ivan Rukavina has replaced Esteban Cervantes in the co-main event of Wednesday’s fight card at the Warner Center Marriott.

Rukavina, from Croatia, will fight Gary Ballard in a light-heavyweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds. Cervantes had to scratch because of a shoulder injury, promoter Gerrie Coetzee said.

Rukavina has a record of 8-5. Ballard, coming off a loss to Roman Santos which spoiled his North American Boxing Organization title hopes, is 18-2-1.

In another change to the five-bout card, Malcolm Brooks will meet Fernando Zuniga in a super middleweight bout scheduled for six rounds. The Brooks-Zuniga fight replaces a previously announced matchup between Eric McNair and Tony Dominques.

George O’Mara, a popular heavyweight from Van Nuys, meets Justin Fortune of Australia in the other co-main event scheduled for 10 rounds. Both fighters lost their last bouts to former world champions.

O’Mara dropped a unanimous decision to Mike Weaver. Fortune lost to Lennox Lewis.

* Contributing: Mike Hiserman.