Contributing over a quarter of the team’s points, the
throwers of the UCLA men’s track team helped secure the
squad’s third-straight MPSF Indoor title Saturday in Seattle.
The three throwers ““ Dan Ames, Jeremy Silverman and Jake
Knight ““ threw for a clean sweep of the shot put, taking home
first, second and third place, respectively. Ames, who scored an
automatic invitation to the NCAA Indoor Championships with his
64-foot-3-inch throw, also won the weight throw with a provisional
qualifying 69-.05-foot throw. “I love the focus the team
had,” coach Art Venegas said of his throwing squad.
“They started the season out kind of weak, but they are
starting to put in a real good effort.” Both Silverman and
Knight also threw for provisional qualifiers and will attempt to
reach the automatic qualifying lengths next weekend at the Last
Chance Meet in Seattle. According to Venegas, the two will need to
throw at least 61-.5 feet in order to qualify.
THREE SUCCESSES ON THE TRACK: Ames was one of
three Bruins to successfully defend his MPSF Indoor title ““
sophomore Craig Everhart and senior Nick Thorton also won their
events. Everhart won the 400-meter sprint in a provisional time of
46.85 seconds, while Thorton won the 800-meter in another
provisional time of 1:49:61. Also successful was the 4×400-meter
relay team, which won its event in a facility record time of
3:09:07. The team ““ consisting of Everhart, Mario Bassani and
Denye Versher ““ was victorious, even though it was only its
first competition together this year. “I just like the system
that we have going now,” Venegas said, referring to the
sprinting squad. “We had one system last year and now we have
another under (sprints coach) Tony Veney. I’m very impressed
with where we’re going now.”
JOHNSON SITS OUT UNTIL OUTDOOR SEASON: Sprinter
Brandon Johnson will sit out the remainder of the indoor season,
Venegas said Monday. The highly anticipated freshman from Texas is
suffering with leg cramps, which has led the coaching staff to
decide to sit him out until outdoor season. While the team puts
some focus on the indoor season, its main concern will always be
the outdoor season. Johnson will conserve his strength until then.
“I’ve always said the indoor season is a reward for
putting in the effort and producing the talent,” Venegas
said.
SEASON HOME OPENER SATURDAY: UCLA will open its
home schedule this weekend at Drake Stadium. It will host Cal-Poly
San Luis Obispo, Cal State Los Angeles and Cal State Fullerton.