Fierce meet expected in track event
Triangular meet promises challenge for UCLA team
By Emmanuelle Ejercito
Daily Bruin Staff
When the UCLA men’s track team met up with California last
season, the meet came down to the last stride. This year, the
contest should be just as fierce as the Bruins compete against Cal
and Kentucky in a triangular meet on Saturday at Drake Stadium.
Last year, UCLA squeaked by the Golden Bears 84-79 behind a
victory in the 4 x 400 meter relay.
"I think that it will be close again," UCLA head coach Bob
Larsen said. "We’re missing some good athletes with injuries, but
we’ll wait and see who is available and who isn’t. But from what I
see on paper right now it will be a very competitive meet."
Kentucky should bring a strong challenge in the sprints. Senior
Tim Harden is the returning NCAA champion in the 100. And just last
weekend, Harden won the NCAA indoor championship by running a 6.06
in the 55-meter dash.
Meanwhile, UCLA’s best sprinter, senior Ato Boldon, the
defending NCAA champion in the 200, will not compete in this
weekend’s meet.
"He was a little bit injured on Friday, and he is just not ready
right now that we can put him out there," Larsen said. "It’s going
to be next quarter before he competes."
With the tandem of Jonathan Ogden and Mark Parlin, who finished
one and two respectively in the NCAA Indoors, the Bruins should
have the upper hand in the shot put. However, Parlin is hampered by
a foot injury.
Cal’s strength resides in the triple jump. Returning for the
Bears is senior All-American Lenards Ozolinsh. Last year, Ozolinsh
placed third in the NCAAs.
However, UCLA should match up well with the Golden Bears and the
Wildcats.
"We’ve got strengths in most events," Larsen said. "We’re a
little bit more balanced than both teams. In almost every event we
have some people in who are going to score pretty well."
* * *
The UCLA women’s track team will partake in a quadrangular meet
against Cal, Kentucky and Tennessee.
This meet will open the outdoor season for shot putters Valeyta
Althouse and Nada Kawar, as well as discus thrower Suzy Powell.
Last week, Althouse won the national indoor title, while Kawar
finished a surprising third in the indoor meet by eclipsing her
personal best by almost three feet.
The perennial favorite in the high jump is Amy Acuff, who came
away with a third-place finish at the NCAA Indoors.Comments to
webmaster@db.asucla.ucla.edu