Community college track and field: OCC earns two conference awards

COSTA MESA - Orange Coast College Coach Gordie Fitzel, who ditched

retirement to head the Pirates track and field program this season,

received the Orange Empire Conference Men’s Coach of the Year honor.

OCC sophomore Heather Shurtleff, the cross country state champion, was

awarded the OEC Women’s Track Athlete of the Year in the distance events.

“I really didn’t get a chance to retire, did I,” said Fitzel, who

credited the athletes and assistants for the award. “I now have more time

to spend on track and field because I’m not teaching. I have more time to

prepare. It’s a good part-time job for me that turned into a full-time

job.”

Shurtleff received her honor after winning OEC titles in the

10,000-meter, 5,000, 3,000 and 1,500 races last week. She will compete in

the 10K regional finals 10 a.m. at the Southern California Prelims

Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College. The following week she runs in the

5K finals, at 5 p.m. also at Mt. SAC.

-- by Steve Virgen