Track Trio Chosen All-American

Senior Anita Siraki of Hoover High tops three athletes from the region who have been selected to Track & Field News’ high school All-American team for the 2000 season.

Siraki, who set a course record in winning the Kenny Staub Invitational cross-country meet at Crescenta Valley Park on Saturday, is ranked first in the girls’ 3,200 meters.

Senior Schquay Brignac of Taft is ranked fourth in the girls’ high jump.

Former Ventura standout Josh Spiker is ranked fifth in the boys’ mile.

Siraki, who will take a recruiting trip to Stanford later this month, won the 3,200 in the Arcadia Invitational on April 8 and in the state championships on June 3 before winning the two-mile in a career-best 10:18.03 in the National Scholastic outdoor championships on June 16.

Brignac, who had a season best of 5-9 in the high jump, was victorious in the Arcadia and Golden West invitationals and in the City Section and state championships.

Spiker, who is redshirting his freshman cross-country season at Wisconsin, placed second in the mile in the Golden West Invitational and in the National Scholastic outdoor championships. His 4:06.51 clocking at Golden West broke the region record of 4:08.5 set by Don Moses of Crescenta Valley in 1976.

BOXING

* Heavyweight Lance Whitaker of Granada Hills improved to 23-1 with a second-round technical knockout of Robert Davis on Friday at Uncasville, Conn.

Whitaker recorded his 18th knockout in the first minute of the second round with a barrage of overhand rights that dropped Davis, who lost for the first time in 23 fights. Whitaker floored Davis three times in the round.

“I promised Davis a real California earthquake and he got it tonight--9.9 on the Whitaker scale,” Whitaker said.

SOFTBALL

* Highland High catcher Ashlie D’Errico, The Times’ Valley player of the year last season, visited University of the Pacific in Stockton over the weekend and has a recruiting trip planned for Michigan this week.

BASEBALL

* Jimmy Alstot, a right-handed pitcher for Camarillo High, has committed to UC Irvine for 2001, Camarillo Coach Scott Cline said.

Alstot, 6 feet 3 and 210 pounds, was 8-0 and selected All-Pacific View League last season.