UC Irvine Track Program Signs Distance Runner

Rayna Cervantes of Montebello High School, one of the nation’s top high school distance runners, has signed a national letter of intent to attend UC Irvine in the fall, Cervantes said.

Cervantes, who as a junior last year was the state runner-up in the 3,200 meters and had the second-best time in the nation in that event (10:18.8), won titles in both the 3-A 1,600 and 3,200 at the Southern Section track and field championships Saturday.

She will provide a major boost to Irvine’s already strong returning distance corps. Irvine also will have All-American Buffy Rabbitt, a former Newport Harbor High star, who spent the 1988-89 school year studying in France.