Top Runners to Compete at Woodbridge Invitational

An estimated 3,000 athletes from more than 100 schools will compete in the Woodbridge Invitational cross-country meet today at Woodbridge High School.

The meet, the largest of its kind in Orange County, will feature many of the top-ranked boys’ and girls’ teams in the Southern Section, including defending state champions Arroyo (boys) and Newport Harbor (girls).

The meet, co-sponsored by the Newport/Irvine Rotary Club, features three divisions based on school enrollment: large schools (more than 2,000 students), medium schools (1,600-1,999) and small schools (less than 1,600). In addition, boys will compete by class and girls will compete in either frosh/soph, junior varsity or varsity races.

Top boys expected to compete include Roger Nava of Santa Ana and Mike Farrell of San Clemente in the large schools’ division; Eddie Lavelle of Corona del Mar and Scott Hemple of Walnut (medium schools) and Tony Gibney and Steve Frisone of Laguna Hills (small schools).

Top girls include Dena Drossin of Agoura and Martha Pinto of Katella (medium schools), and Kim Robinson of Newport Harbor and Cathi Peck and Amy Robles of Woodbridge (small schools).

The meet will begin with the large school freshman boys’ division at 7:45 a.m. Races for both large and medium schools will begin every 15 minutes, running until 11:30 a.m.

Small schools’ competition will begin at 3 p.m. and run every 20 minutes until 5:30.