Irvine’s Jock honored

UC Irvine junior Charles Jock has been named Big West Conference Athlete of the Year in men’s track for the second consecutive year.

He ranks No. 1 in the NCAA and second in the U.S. in the 800 meters this season with a time of 1 minute, 45.19 seconds, accomplished in winning the Elite Invitational 800 at the Mt. SAC Relays April 16. The effort broke his own school record.

Jock was named the Athlete of the Meet for the second straight year at the Cal/Nevada Championships after winning the 800 in 1:47.18 March 27 in Claremont. This was the third straight year that he won the 800 at that meet.

He ran the fourth-fastest time (46.30) in UCI history in winning the 400 at the Asics/Steve Scott Invitational May 1 at Anteater Stadium.

Jock ran the anchor leg in 45.1, surging from fourth place on the final straightaway to help UCI win the 4x400 relay (3:10.28) at the Big West Conference Championships on Saturday.

He shares this year’s Big West track honor with UC Santa Barbara’s Ryan Martin, who edged Jock at the finish line in the 800 final by six-hundredths of a second in the Big West Championships.

Jock will compete in the NCAA West Preliminary Round May 26-28 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

— From staff reports