SPORTS BRIEFS : Interim Athletic Director Will Keep Job

Dave O’Brien will remain as interim athletic director at Cal State Long Beach until at least January, university President Curtis L. McCray has announced.

O’Brien, 36, was appointed to the position last September when Corey Johnson resigned to become athletic director at Colorado State. Previously, O’Brien was the president’s administrative assistant for financial matters.

McCray, citing state budgetary problems, said it would not be in the university’s interest to conduct a national search for a replacement at this time. In recent weeks O’Brien made it known he sought the job on a full-time basis.

The city of Lakewood will honor the state champion Artesia High School boys’ basketball team in a ceremony at 7 p.m. April 28 at City Hall.

The ABC Unified School District Board of Education also plans to honor the team at a later date. Artesia defeated Danville of San Ramon, 57-50, in the state Division II title game on Friday.

“I’m really surprised at how we finished,” Coach Wayne Merino said. “We never really talked about a state championship. Our goal was a league and (Southern Section) championship, but the kids really came on at the end when it counts most.”

Artesia, which won the Suburban League title, was defeated by Glendora, 66-48, in the Southern Section II-AA title game, but was awarded an at-large berth in the state Division II playoffs. The Pioneers (29-4) beat Glendora, 59-54, in the state regional final to advance to the championship game.

Some of the top bull riders in the country will take part in the Bull Riders Only world championships Saturday night at the Long Beach Arena. A purse of $25,000 is up for grabs.

A national study to identify heart abnormalities in young athletes will continue Saturday at Cal State Long Beach.

Children from school districts in Long Beach and Los Angeles are scheduled to be tested by sophisticated cardiac equipment. It is part of an ongoing project of the Iowa Heart Center.

The purpose of the study is to identify heart abnormalities in youths that lead to unexpected heart failure and possibly death. A similar screening in Iowa in 1991 found heart abnormalities in 2% of the subjects.

The deadline to register for the annual La Mirada all-city youth track and field meet is Wednesday. The meet will be held at 6 p.m. April 4 at La Mirada High School. It is open to resident boys and girls born between 1977 and 1984. Information: (310) 943-7277.

The California State Championships/Paramount Silver Skates of short track ice speed skating takes place Sunday at Iceland Skating Arena in Paramount. Participants range in age from 4 to over 50. Information: (213) 883-4585.