UCLA’s Lena Nilsson will try to move a little closer to
achieving her goal of representing Sweden at the World Track and
Field Championships when she runs in the 1500-meters Saturday at
the Prefontaine Classic.
Perhaps the top collegiate middle-distance runner in the nation,
Nilsson will need a mark of 4:05.80 or better to qualify for the
world championships. She posted the fastest 1500m mark of the
collegiate season (4:13.21) last weekend at the Pac-10
Championships, but Nilsson and UCLA distance coach Eric Peterson
are expecting the step up in competition to help her improve that
mark.
“I am excited about the opportunity to see her run against
some of the fastest women in the world,” Peterson said.
“It will allow her to test her fitness at an elite
level.”
After setting a personal and UCLA school record when she ran the
1500m in 4:09.89 last July, Nilsson has not topped that time yet
this season.
Nonetheless she could shatter it this weekend if the pace allows
it.
Nilsson rarely sets the pace in a race, instead hanging back in
the pack before taking control of of a race in its latter stages.
But competing against an elite field that includes
Australia’s Suzy Walsham and Jamaica’s Mardrea Hyman
““ two of the top middle-distance runners in the world ““
Nilsson could exceed her top marks anyway.
“She’s at the mercy of the field,” Peterson
said. “If it’s an honest race, she’s in shape
enough to make a strong effort and set a new personal
record.”
Although the Prefontaine Classic falls less than a week before
the NCAA West Regionals are scheduled to begin, Peterson does not
expect the meet to be a detriment to Nilsson’s chances.
“It’s been a part of our training plan for
months,” he said. “It will give her a chance to see how
she stacks up at an international level.”