Running : With Olympic Trials Ahead, a Proud Summer Waits for UCI’s O’Boyle

In 19 years of college coaching, Vince O’Boyle has helped many track and field athletes realize their dreams.

Now, O’Boyle, UC Irvine’s track and field director, is beginning to realize dreams of his own--some of which he never before dared to imagine.

Starting next Friday, O’Boyle will watch four of his athletes--both present and former--compete at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials, which run through July 23 at Indianapolis.

They are Irvine’s Jill Harrington, Beth McGrann and Buffy Rabbitt, and 1984 Olympian Ruth Wysocki, whom O’Boyle has coached (“advised,” he says) for 14 years.

At the same time, another Irvine product, Judy McLaughlin, will be training in Guatemala with the Guatemalan national team.

McLaughlin, a Guatemalan citizen who graduated from Irvine in June, is the top-ranked women’s distance runner in Guatemala. She earned the distinction with times recorded last season at Irvine--4 minutes 18 seconds in the 1,500 meters and 9:20 in the 3,000 meters.

McLaughlin, who will compete for Guatemala in a meet at Mexico City July 23, is expected to represent her homeland in the Olympic Games at Seoul.

For O’Boyle, 42, this shapes up to be a proud summer.

“Years ago, I thought it would be great just to see one (of) my athletes get to an Olympic trials,” he said.

“When Ruth (qualified for the trials) in 1976, it was something I hardly even dreamed would happen. And now this. I feel very fortunate just to be working with them.”

The big name, of course, is Wysocki, who shocked the track and field scene four years ago with a victory in the 1,500-meter trial final.

There, she not only improved her personal best by 12 seconds--running 4:00.18--but became the first American in four years to outrun Mary Decker Slaney.

This season, Wysocki has run 4:08.59. Track & Field News picked her to finish sixth in the 1,500 trial final. O’Boyle thinks her chances of making the team--placing third or better in the final--look good.

“She gets cranked up for the trials,” O’Boyle said. “I think she has a very strong chance of making the team. People will be surprised.”

For Harrington, who graduated in June, the trials represent the opportunity to prove herself after a frustrating season.

Harrington, whose 1,500-meter best is 4:16.73 (an Irvine school record), was out of training for nearly two months after surgery in January. She managed a 4:19.01 this season.

Harrington, 23, said her goal is to run a personal best, somewhere in the 4:14 range.

Rabbitt, 19, knows there’s no need to hold back at the trials, as it will be her last competition for nearly a year. Rabbitt will spend her junior year living and studying in France. O’Boyle will redshirt her for the 1988-89 season.

Rabbitt, whose 1,500-meter best is 4:16.83, said she hopes just to make it to the semifinals. The 1,500 meter trials are divided into three rounds: preliminary, semifinal and final.

“I’d be real happy if I could get that far,” said Rabbitt, a former standout at Newport Harbor High School. “Anything after that would be great. Basically, I just want to come home knowing I ran the absolute best I could.”

McGrann, a 10,000-meter runner, set the school record in the event this season with a 33:53 effort. The 10,000-meter trials will consist of two semifinals and a final, five days apart.

Many think it will take running below 33:00 just to make the final.

“I’m hoping for a big PR (personal record),probably in the low 33s,” McGrann, 22, said. “I just want to compete well, mostly. I don’t want to have any regrets.”

The Bastille Day 8-Kilometer Race, one of the area’s largest road races, is scheduled to begin Sunday at 8 a.m. More than 3,500 runners are expected to compete in the race, which begins at the Meridien hotel in Newport Beach.

Among those participants are Cal State Los Angeles’ Sylvia Mosqueda, the defending women’s champion who last year equaled the American women’s 8K record of 25:47.

Mosqueda, 21, is expected to be challenged by Marie Rollins, a member of the Irish Olympic team, and Nancy Bowman, 22, a five-time NCAA All-American at Cal State Northridge.

The men’s division is led by Samson Obwocha of Kenya, a Rialto resident. Obwocha, an 8:13 steeplechaser, has a best 10K time of 29:00.

Obwocha, 28, is expected to be challenged by Alfredo Rosas, a former All-American at Kansas State. Rosas, 28, has a best 10K time of 29:14. Another top competitor is John Koningh, 31, of Newport Beach. Koningh has run a 29:15 10K.

A 3-kilometer fun run/walk will also be offered at 8 a.m.

For information, call 557-5100.

Does your dog love to run?

This Saturday, the first Purina Hi Pro K9 Fun Run will take place at Rancho Park in Century City.

Competition begins with a one-mile run/walk at 9 a.m. A two-mile fun run begins at 9:30 a.m.

Fee is $10 per dog, owners are free. All participants receive a bandanna, T-shirt and a commemorative dog dish.

Proceeds from the event, one of a nationwide series, benefit the National Head Injury Foundation and the Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

For information, call (213) 396-7727.

Other races this week:

Saturday: The Sun Biathlon. Shadow Park, Rialto. Fourteen-mile bike ride, 5-kilometer run. For information, call 820-0166.

Thursday: College of the Canyons 5K Cross-Country Series. College of the Canyons, Newhall. 7 p.m. For information, call (805) 944-2511.

El Toro Three-mile Cross-Country Series. Sycamore Park, El Toro. 6:30 p.m. For information, call 770-0444.

Paramount Ranch Cross-Country two- and three-milers. Paramount Ranch, Agoura. 6:30 p.m. For information, call (818) 992-6219.

Villa Park Three-Mile Fun Run. Villa Park High School. 6:30 p.m. For information, call 774-3959.