3 Area Cyclists in Striking Distance of 89er Stage Lead

Three area cyclists are within striking range of first place after the opening stage of the 89er Stage Race in Norman, Okla.

Shawn Cronkhite of Chatsworth placed fifth among 162 national-class riders in the 25-kilometer stage race Friday, the first of the three-day competition.

Thurlow Rogers of Van Nuys is in sixth and John Wordin of West Hills is 20th. All ride the the Miller Lite Cycling team.

The second stage, to be conducted today, is a 90-mile road race.

Soccer

Simi Valley High’s Amy Hood, the Southern Section Division I defensive player of the year in girls’ soccer, signed a letter of intent Friday to play for St. Mary’s.

Hood also was considering Cornell, Santa Clara, the University of San Diego and the University of San Francisco.

She had a 3.8 grade-point average in high school and will receive an academic/athletic scholarship to play for the Gaels.

“I really like the small community and small classes (at St. Mary’s),” she said. “And they have a high percentage of students that graduate in four years.”

Hood, the Pioneers’ MVP, was twice selected to the All-Marmonte League first team.