Mixed Results for CSUN Teams on Second Day of Track Finals

The Cal State Northridge women’s 1,600-meter relay team posted the fourth fastest time in school history in the second day of competition on Thursday at the NCAA Division II track and field championships at Cal State Los Angeles.

The team of Sheila Murray, Kim Turner, Lori Costello and Julie Middleton qualified for Saturday afternoon’s final with a time of 3:44.50. Costello ran a superb 54.6 third leg.

The Matador men weren’t so fortunate. The 1,600-meter relay team of Gary Jackson, Ken Joerger, Vaughn Kastor and Keith Copeland failed to qualify in its heat, placing sixth in 3:17.07.

Earlier, Copeland had missed qualifying for the 400-meter final by .11 seconds. He finished fourth in his heat in 47.80, which was the ninth fastest time overall. The top eight times qualified for the final.

Several Northridge athletes will compete in today’s meet, which begins at 2 p.m.

Costello and Penny Franklin will compete in the long jump, Sue Patterson will compete in the high jump and Nancy Bowman will run in the 3,000-meter final.

Costello finished fourth in the long jump at last year’s meet while Patterson tied for second in the high jump.

The women’s 400-meter relay team, which ran a season best of 46.69 in qualifying Wednesday, will run in the final of that event.

Jackson, who is the only Northridge athlete remaining in the men’s meet, will compete in the long jump, where he holds the school record at 25-3.