In an obscure little meet, on a weekend when most UCLA track
athletes were resting up for the Pac-10 Championships, two Bruins
ran their best races of the season.
Middle distance runners Ben Aragon and Jon Rankin traveled to
the Occidental Invitational in Eagle Rock, Calif., where they both
posted impressive 800-meter times.
“It was surprising we ran as fast as we did,” Rankin
said. “The way it worked out to run one-two like that was
pretty special.”
Rankin, a junior, demonstrated his ability by winning the
1500-meter race at the National Junior Championship in his freshman
year at UCLA. This past weekend, he returned to excellent form,
running the half-mile in a personal best 1:49.67.
Rankin’s time and Aragon’s 1:48.56, just shy of his
personal best, rank the athletes as the No. 4 and No. 2 Pac-10
runners for the 800m, respectively. They also guarantee the two
athletes berths at the NCAA Regional meet.
“What’s great is that as we approach Pac-10s, these
guys are responding to everything we’re asking of
them,” Peterson said.
Both Rankin and Aragon will compete in the 1500m as well as the
800m at the Pac-10 Championships in Arizona this weekend.
On the other hand, Nick Thorton, who is No. 1 in the Pac-10 in
the 800m, strained his hamstring at the Oxy meet. His participation
at Pac-10s is still in question.
“These are very capable athletes, and I would love to have
all three go forward,” Peterson said. “(Thorton) will
travel, and if he’s ready to go, he’ll go.”
With or without Thorton’s participation, Peterson hopes
his distance runners will be able to contribute at least 20 points
to the UCLA team score.
“I don’t think Thorton’s absence would put
more pressure on us,” Aragon said. “It makes it more
critical that we do well, but we are all in a good position to win
the 800m.”
While it would definitely be an easier task to garner points
with Thorton’s help, Peterson believes his athletes are
ready.
“They are prepared and excited about this weekend,”
he said.