Don’t let USC coach Ron Allice fool you. UCLA
women’s track and field certainly isn’t going to let
him.
In spite of Allice’s hour-long doomsday prophecy of a
press conference before this weekend’s crosstown dual meet,
the No. 2 Bruins are preparing as if the meet could be decided by
the outcome of the final events.
That’s why, if the score is close, each member of
UCLA’s talented middle distance corps is prepared to pull
double duty and run the Bruins to victory in the 1500-meter, the
second-to-last event of the day.
“We’re going to bring the house in that
event,” distance coach Eric Peterson said. “That means
every single athlete who is eligible will be ready.”
UCLA, winners of 11 consecutive crosstown dual meets, defeated
its rivals 104-59 a year ago. Should this year’s finish be a
bit tighter, the Bruins are targeting the 1500 as the event in
which they might be able to put the meet away.
Redshirt sophomore Alejandra Barrientos is the lone UCLA runner
who will be in the 1500 field regardless of the score. Jenna
Timinsky (800m), Ashley Caldwell (800m), and Melissa McBain
(5-kilometer) will be among the most likely candidates to double if
Peterson chooses.
“I’ll leave that in Eric (Peterson’s)
hands,” McBain said. “But I really enjoy the 1500. I
would jump at the opportunity to do that.”
No. 16 USC will counter with Ukrainian Iryna Vashchuk, who has
the second-fastest Pac-10 1500m time behind only Barrientos.
While the Trojans boast their strongest distance unit in years,
Allice still was not pleased that the 1500m would be among the last
events contested. Traditionally in dual meets, the 5000m is the
final race, and Allice felt perhaps the UCLA staff might have made
the schedule with its middle-distance strength in mind.
“It gives him something to complain about,” said
Peterson, who engaged in a heated argument with Allice during the
dual meet last year over the schedule of events.
“What’s silly about it is they’ve got one of
the best 1500m runners in the conference in Vashchuk. They’ll
have the opportunity to triple her if they want.”
The Bruins could have an opportunity to clinch the victory
before the 1500m if things break their way. UCLA will be heavily
favored in the pole vault and the high jump, while USC seems to
have the advantage in the javelin and the 100m.
Where the meet could swing in UCLA’s favor is in the
horizontal jumps. If either Renee Williams or Candice Baucham are
able to top USC’s Michelle Sanford in the long jump and
triple jump, the Bruins might be able to open up a decisive
lead.
UCLA’s Monique Henderson and Sheena Johnson will run in
four events apiece for the Bruins, who will be looking to improve
upon head coach Jeanette Bolden’s unblemished dual meet
record of 69-0.
It will also be a chance for the squad’s seniors to end
their collegiate careers without losing to the Trojans.
“You really wouldn’t want it any other way,”
said McBain, herself a senior.