Leeuwen Finds 85 a Winning Number

Everything went according to plan for Ernest Van Leeuwen, the oldest competitor in the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday.

The 85-year-old Encino runner finished in 6 hours 28 minutes and 37 seconds to win the 80-98 age division for the third time in five years and avenged his loss last year to George Feinstein of Altadena.

The morning after, Van Leeuwen was already planning for next year: “I’m going to try to get better-fitting shoes. My toes were a little pinched.”

VOLLEYBALL

Another hit: Royal High’s Steve Russell, a 6-foot-6 opposite hitter, has committed to Cal State Northridge.

Russell, who has helped Royal to a 6-0 record, is the third major recruit from the area to commit to Northridge in the last two weeks, joining Joe Nargi of Taft and Jeff Toon of Kennedy.

“[Coach Jeff Campbell] is building a team of local players to try to win the championship,” Russell said.

SWIMMING

Ervin doubles up: Anthony Ervin of Canyons Aquatics won the 100- and 50-yard freestyle events at the Junior National West meet in Fargo, N.D., last week.

Ervin, a junior at Hart High, won the 100 in 45.11 and the 50 in 46.19, just .02 away from qualifying for the U.S. National meet this week in Minneapolis. He also placed sixth in the 100 backstroke.

Leonardo Salinas of Buenaventura Aquatics finished second in the 1,650 freestyle in 15:37.60. Joel Everman of Swim Pasadena and Notre Dame High was fourth in the 1,650 and fifth in the 500 freestyle, and Ian Prichard of Buenaventura and Buena High was fourth in the 400 individual medley and sixth in the 500 freestyle.