Track Notes : Mater Dei’s Nielsen Signs With Irvine

Mike Nielsen, who as a senior at Mater Dei High School ran the fastest 1,600-meter time in Orange County this year, signed a national letter of intent Monday to attend UC Irvine in the fall.

Nielsen ran his county-leading time of 4 minutes 11.56 seconds in placing fourth at the state meet in June.

At Irvine, Nielsen will join a number of Orange County prep track and field standouts who have signed with Irvine. They include Woodbridge multievent star Louie Muniz, Edison half-miler Doug Nichols and Westminster 400-meter runner Shelly Tochluk.

Jimmy Rodriguez, a graduate of Santa Ana Valley High, will attend Central Arizona College in the fall, according to Santa Ana Valley Coach George Payan.

Rodriguez was the county’s fastest 3,200-meter runner this year and The Times’ boys’ cross-country runner of the year last fall. Central Arizona is the defending junior college cross-country national champion.