CS Northridge Track Program Is Back on the Winning Track

The Cal State Northridge men’s track and field team was in disarray last May. After seven consecutive top-10 finishes in the NCAA Division II championships, the Matadors didn’t even place in the top 30 at the NCAA meet. It appeared that the program was headed downhill.

But a lot has happened since then. Coach Don Strametz and assistant Tony Veney signed several talented recruits over the summer and the program appears to be on the rise after Saturday’s double-dual meet against Cal State Los Angeles and UC Riverside at Northridge. Cal State L.A., the defending California Collegiate Athletic Assn. champion, defeated CSUN, 101-62, but the Matadors, who beat Riverside, 136-18, had many fine performances.

Freshman Tyrone Jeffries, one of those talented recruits, led Northridge. Jeffries, a graduate of Pasadena’s Muir High, set personal bests in the 110-meter high hurdles (14.78) and 400-meter intermediate hurdles (53.09).

Brian Lumpkin of Los Angeles edged Jeffries in both hurdle races, clocking 14.72 and 53.07. Jeffries’ effort in the intermediates was only .09 seconds shy of the NCAA Division II championships qualifying standard and his effort in the high hurdles was a CSUN freshman record.

In the women’s meet, CSUN defeated Los Angeles, 87-57, and UC Riverside, 130-1.

Freshman Darcy Arreola, the 1986 state high school champion at 1,600 meters, placed second to Sylvia Mosqueda of Cal State L.A. in the 800 and 1,500 meters in her first meet of the season. Arreola, who had been sidelined with a knee injury, ran 4:31.98 in the 1,500 and 2:12.87 in the 800. The 1,500 time qualified her for the NCAA Division II championships.