Monday, March 10, 1997
TRACK:
UCLA also finishes near top of shot put, hammer throw events and
55-meter race By Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
While the men’s basketball team is trying to reach Indianapolis
for the national championship three weeks from now, the men’s and
women’s indoor track teams were competing there this weekend in the
NCAA Indoor Championships.
Although the Bruins only sent 11 runners to the two-day event at
the RCA Dome, UCLA emerged with two national champions.
Senior high jumper Amy Acuff won her third indoor title and
fifth national title overall, with a 6-3 1/4 jump.
On the men’s side, junior Mebrahtom Keflezighi won the
5,000-meter race, the first-ever Bruin to win a distance running
championship indoors.
Keflezighi was able to come from behind over the final 800
meters, and ended up winning by 10 seconds. He ran the final 800
meters in 2:01.
Aside from the two champions, UCLA had a few competitors who
finished around the top of their respective events.
Sophomore Travis Haynes finished in fourth place in the shot put
with a lifetime-best throw of 61-10.
In the women’s shot put, freshman Seilala Sua broke her own
national junior (anyone who won’t turn 20 during the season) record
and finished in third place with a throw of 57-3 1/2.
In other women’s action, sophomore Joanna Hayes finished third
in the 55-meter race, and senior Rachelle Noble placed in the
35-pound hammer throw.
The one disappointment occurred in the pole vault, where junior
Scott Slover broke his pole on his second attempt due to an
under-depression.
"It’s a shame that happened because we thought he had a good
chance to do well," UCLA head coach Bob Larsen said.
But, on the whole, the weekend was considered a good one for the
Bruins.
"It is great to have two national champions," head coach Bob
Larsen said. "We don’t do indoor that extensively so when you have
two champions and others doing well, you’re pleased."
The Bruins will have an outdoor meet next Saturday with a meet
in Berkeley with California and Idaho.
UCLA Sports info
Senior high jumper Amy Acuff