Track team prepares for NCAA finals

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By J.P. Hoornstra Daily Bruin Senior Staff
jhoornstra@media.ucla.edu

They’re not going to win a national title.

They’re not favored to win any events.

They’re not even running at full strength.

What then, do the nine men representing UCLA track and field
have in store for fans this week in Baton Rouge?

“I’d like to see the guys do something they’re
proud of individually … to just enjoy the opportunity,”
head coach Art Venegas said.

While moral victories may be of little consolation to fans, the
success of the Bruin nine cannot be assessed by their place in the
final standings of the NCAA Championships on Friday. The focal
point over the next three days will be the four seniors, competing
in their final meet in a UCLA uniform, who are expected to go down
fighting.

Michael Lipscomb (No. 15 in the 200-meters), Scott Moser (No. 4
in the discus and No. 12 in the hammer throw), Scott Wiegand (No. 6
in the shot put) and C.J. Bell (No. 15 in the pole vault) are
taking their final shots at collegiate glory. That could be enough
of a motivating factor to put them in contention among the best in
the nation.

Neither junior Kyle Erickson (No. 5 in the 400-meter hurdles)
nor sophomore Chuckie Ryan (No. 10 in the 110-meter hurdles) has
run at full strength in over a week. Each is nursing a hamstring
injury and may not be ready come showtime.

“We won’t know until they go 100 percent,”
Venegas said. “With track injuries … the speed element is
so extreme that until you go full blast, it’s hard to figure
out if you’re injured or not.”

Also making the trip to Baton Rouge are sophomores Juane Armon
(No. 6 in the long jump) and Dan Ames (No. 8 in the shot put, No. 7
in the discus) and freshman Jason Rider (No. 19 in the discus).

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