ON THE RIGHT TRACK

Track coaches at the University of California-Riverside first noticed Nathan Irvin when he was 15. He was that good. They noticed Irvin's name and photo appeared frequently in the local newspaper. For years they kept an eye on him at nearby Riverside Polytech High School. Irvin went on to become the state high-school long jump and triple jump champion in California's CIS Division II.

"When it came time for us to recruit, he was at the top of our list. He was the top senior in our area and was being recruited by major Division I schools throughout the country," says Chris Rinne, UCR's head track and field coach.

At the time the university was moving up from Division II status to Division I.

"It was critical for us to get an athlete who was indicative of the direction we wanted to go," Rinne says. "We were interested in his ability but also his outstanding character."

Mark Moyer, Irvin's sprint hurdle coach, says "he's the complete package when you look for someone with the athletic ability and the academic ability."

Irvin, now a senior, became the college's top sprinter and long jumper, setting a freshman long jump record of 23 feet and 7 inches. He also has been the men's track captain for three years. Irvin, a pre-med student, has maintained a 3.76 GPA and today is fielding offers from top medical schools around the country.

For all his track victories, Irvin says his proudest moment was receiving his scholarship offer to run track at UCR.

"It was the first time that I had realized a dream that I had been harboring since I was a child," he says. "It let me see what happens when you set a goal and work continuously to achieve it. It kind of set the tone for the rest of my endeavors."

As a youngster, Irvin initially wanted to be a basketball player. He became interested in track as a high-school freshman because of his older brother's interest.

He made a smooth transition to college, keeping his grades up, improving in skills and even making time for extracurricular activities.