NEWS FLASH

Off to school: Burbank tight end Vardan Mkhitarian has signed a letter of intent with Northern Arizona, Bulldog Coach Gary Willison said.

Mkhitarian, 6 feet 4 and 245 pounds, was a valuable blocker for the Bulldogs. He had eight catches for 78 yards.

COLLEGES

Showcase: ESPN2 will broadcast a half-hour special Sunday at 1 p.m. on the top women in college sports. Among those featured will be regional athletes Cindy Daws, Amy Skieresz and Kristine Quance.

Daws, winner of the Honda-Broderick Cup as the nation’s top collegiate woman athlete, is a Louisville High graduate who established a single-season scoring record for Notre Dame, leading the Irish to their third consecutive NCAA soccer championship game.

Skieresz, an Agoura High graduate, has won three NCAA track championships and a cross-country title.

Quance, from Granada Hills High, paced the USC women’s swim team to a national championship and earned an Olympic berth.

TRACK AND FIELD

Matadors honored: Junior Joe Criner, senior Jeff Beam and sophomore Christina Tolson of Cal State Northridge have been chosen Big Sky Conference track and field athletes of the week.

Criner was selected as the men’s track athlete of the week after winning the 200 and 60 meters Saturday. His time of 21.01 seconds in the 200 was a Northridge indoor record and moved him to second on the all-time conference list.

Beam was named the men’s field athlete of the week after clearing a Northridge indoor record of 17 feet 3 inches in the pole vault to move to fourth on the all-time Big Sky list.

Tolson was picked as the women’s field athlete of the week after placing first in the 20-pound weight throw and second in the shotput Saturday.

FYI

Murray appearance: Former major leaguer Eddie Murray is scheduled to sign autographs at a sports card and collectible show Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Airtel Plaza Hotel in Reseda.