Briefs: ‘Eaters’ Jock up for Bowerman award

Recent UC Irvine graduate Charles Jock has been named one of 10 semifinalists for The Bowerman, collegiate track and field’s biggest individual award on Monday.

An advisory board will pick which athlete receives the award. The winner will be announced June 29.

Jock, a three-time All-American, begins his bid for a spot on the U.S. Olympic track team Friday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Jock competes in the first round of the 800 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials with heats starting at 5:20 p.m. Friday.

Sixteen will advance to Saturday’s semifinals at 4:45 p.m. with the top eight qualifying for the final on Monday at 7:47 p.m. The top three from Monday’s final will earn spots on the U.S. team for the London 2012 Olympics that run from July 27 to Aug. 12.

Jock, also a three-time Big West Conference Track Athlete of the Year, won the NCAA title in the 800 with a time of 1 minute, 45.59 seconds at Des Moines, Iowa, June 8. He became UCI’s first individual NCAA champion in 34 years since Steve Scott (1,500) and Mauricio Bardales (decathlon) won titles in 1978.

Jock, who also won this year’s Big West 800 title, was a member of the U.S. team for the IAAF World Championships last summer. He finished third in the U.S. Trials last June in Eugene with a school-record time of 1:44.67.

— From staff reports

Two Sailors throwers shine

For the first time this throwing season, Newport Harbor High discus thrower Ethan Cochran didn’t finish first in his top event.

The UC Berkeley-bound senior, competing against college athletes Sunday, placed 16th with a throw of 170 feet, seven inches at the USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Bloomington, Ind.

Cochran, the CIF State champion in the discus the past two seasons, was trying to qualify and represent the American team at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona next month.

Newport Harbor Steve Michaelsen placed fourth in the shot put and ninth in the discus at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor meet in Greensboro, N.C. this past weekend.

The Wake Forest-bound senior heaved the shot put 56-111/4 and the discus 164-11.

— From staff reports

Two Sea Kings Arizona-bound

Corona del Mar High senior outside linebackers Aaron White and Frasier Anderson are each playing in a high school all-star football game, which will feature some of the best players from Arizona against players from Southern California on June 23 in Surprise, Ariz., said CdM Coach Scott Meyer.

Meyer said White and Anderson also plan to be walk-ons for the University of Arizona football program.

White, the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Defensive Player of the Year, and Anderson, a Dream Team selection, helped the Sea Kings win the CIF Southern Section Southern Division title this past season.

White recorded an area-best 17 sacks to go with 98 tackles. He earned the All-CIF Southern Section Southern Division Defensive MVP award and made the All-Orange County second-team defense and first-team All-Pacific Coast League.

Anderson, a first-team all-leaguer, finished with 100 tackles and returned two interceptions for touchdowns. He had two sacks, two fumble recoveries and forced one fumble.

— From staff reports

MLB draftees Sabol, Dunn sign

Former Orange Coast College baseball standouts Stefan Sabol and Ryan Dunn are the latest local major league draftees to sing professional contracts.

Sabol, a sophomore outfielder in 2012, signed with the New York Mets, who selected him in the 17th round (No. 530 overall). A bounce-back from the University of Oregon, Sabol hit .255 with four home runs and 24 runs batted in in 29 games. His season was shortened by a broken hamate bone sustained in the preseason.

Sabol helped the Pirates win the program’s first outright Orange Empire Conference crown since 1987 and advance to the four-team state tournament in Bakersfield.

Dunn, a member of the Pirates’ 2009 state championship team who played the last two seasons at Oregon State, signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, who made him a 17th-round selection (No. 542).

Dunn hit .286 with seven homers, 36 RBIs and 19 doubles in 60 games for the Beavers, for whom he was a team captain. He helped Oregon State earn a bid in the NCAA Regionals.

The two locals join 2012 OCC standouts Joel Licon and Boog Powell among locals who have signed professionally.

— From staff reports