Lena Nilsson has been a two-sport star this season, excelling at
both cross country and track, earning her the Daily Bruin Female
Athlete of the Year award.
In track, Nilsson broke the school record in the 1500-meters
with a time of 4:07.69 and is a serious threat to repeat as the
national champion in that event.
“I have an extremely high level of confidence that she
will defend her title in the 1500m,” UCLA distance and cross
country coach Eric Peterson said. “Her ten points would be
extremely valuable to the team.”
She also won the 800-meters at the NCAA West Regionals.
But Nilsson decided not to compete in the 800m at the NCAA
Championships, giving up a chance at winning two individual titles
for the sake of the team.
Nilsson could potentially help the team more by winning the
1500m than by having two sub-par performances. Running both events
would require an exhausting five races in four days.
“Lena’s 100 percent focused on the NCAAs right now;
I wouldn’t say that setting another personal record is out of
the question.”
In cross country, Nilsson was named an All-American, finishing
13th overall at the NCAA Championships and was the only Bruin
finisher in the top 60.
But it’s track where Nilsson achieved her greatest
successes, as one of the main point-earners on the No. 3 team in
the nation.
“This is a team sport, and Lena came here to represent
UCLA,” Peterson said. “We need our stars to carry us to
the team championship.”
Nilsson is trying to qualify to represent her native Sweden at
the Track and Field World Championships. She missed a qualifying
mark by just two seconds at the Prefontaine Classic on May 25.
With reports from Jeff Eisenberg, Bruin Sports Senior Staff.