UCLA’s quest to capture the Pac-10 men’s track and
field championship for the first time in seven years will have to
be a come-from-behind effort. The Bruins will start the individual
portion of the conference meet 23 points behind the Oregon Ducks,
who captured four of the top five spots in the decathlon
competition at the Pac-10 Multi-Event Championships this weekend in
Arizona. Senior Chris Staton, who UCLA had hoped would deny the
Ducks as many points as possible, finished behind all four Oregon
competitors, tallying just two points for a disappointing
seventh-place finish. “It’s a big blow to our
chances,” UCLA coach Art Venegas said. “Oregon is very
strong in all areas. We’re going to need a lot more breaks
next weekend now.” Venegas was wary that the eighth-ranked
Ducks might open up a sizeable lead in the decathlon, considering
they boasted three of the conference’s top five scorers
coming into the event. Enter Oregon freshman Tommy Skipper, a
surprise wild card competitor in the decathlon, and Venegas knew
the inevitable result. “We didn’t anticipate they would
use Skipper,” he said. “They really threw the kitchen
sink at us.” Skipper, the Oregon school record-holder in the
pole vault, excelled in his first decathlon since high school. He
won the 100 meters, shot put, javelin and, of course, the pole
vault en route to 7589 points and a first-place finish. Oregon also
took third, fourth and fifth place, amassing a total of 25 points
on the day. The decathlon was certainly a key event for the Ducks,
who probably cemented their status as conference favorites going
into next weekend. But Oregon, winners of the Pac-10 decathlon the
past three years, has only captured one conference championship in
that span, winning in 2003 by default after USC used an ineligible
athlete and had to forfeit the title. Venegas, who believes his No.
11 Bruins are the only team capable of challenging the Ducks,
remained optimistic about UCLA’s chances. “Oregon has
always been the favorite,” he said. “But we’re a
strong second with a good chance to pull the upset.” The
individual half of the Pac-10 Championships take place Friday and
Saturday in Arizona. UCLA will be looking to improve upon its
third-place finish from last year.
FLYING HIGH: Senior Yoo Kim showed signs that
he might be coming around with a 17-foot, 10.5-inch effort to win
the men’s pole vault at the Modesto Relays on Saturday. Kim,
who cleared 18 feet last season, has been inconsistent this year,
but had been hoping to have a good meet before Pac-10s. He will be
one of the favorites to take first place in the pole vault along
with Oregon freshman Skipper. UCLA senior Pat Luke (17-2.5)
finished fifth.
RESTING UP: The majority of UCLA’s top
sprinters took the weekend off so they could be in top shape for
next weekend. Craig Everhart, Tony Golston and Jonathon Williams
each did not compete, while Brandon Johnson, Denyé Versher and
Mario Bassani took a short trip over to Occidental College to run
in one event apiece.