Earlier this week, it looked as though there could be a dramatic
facelift to the coaching staff of the men’s and women’s
distance crews in the UCLA track and field program. Men’s and
women’s cross country coach Eric Peterson was interviewing
for the cross country and track and field distance coaching
position at Stanford. Moreover, he was pegged as a finalist for the
job. Simultaneously, two-time Olympian and former Bruin thrower
Seilala Sua was recruited as the new women’s volunteer throws
coach. She will be taking over a post that previously belonged to
Art Venegas, who will continue to coach his multi-event athletes in
throws. However, news came out later this week that Peterson will
indeed by staying at UCLA, and only the women’s throwers will
be forced to adapt to sudden changes with the hiring of a new
coach. Peterson, on vacation for the past week, could not be
reached for comment. It is unclear whether he was offered the
coaching job and turned it down or whether Stanford chose another
candidate for the position. Either way, Peterson will not be on his
way to Palo Alto and the athletic department is spared the process
of searching for a new coach. Peterson, an All-American distance
runner with the University of Oregon in 1988, has been with the
Bruins since 1993. He was named the women’s cross country
coach one year following his arrival at UCLA. For the past six
seasons, Peterson has also been the men’s cross country coach
and a specialty coach for the men’s and women’s
distance corps. Under Peterson in 2003, the UCLA women became the
first cross country team in school history to automatically qualify
for the NCAA Championships, placing second at the NCAA West
Regional to gain the automatic berth. Peterson is a product of
training and coaching with some of the top distance coaches in the
world, including longtime Ducks coach and three time Olympian Bill
Dellinger, as well as UCLA coach Bob Larsen, who coached the
men’s distance runners at the 2004 Olympic Games. Sua,
meanwhile, who is currently coached by Venegas, returns to UCLA
after graduating in 2000. She competed in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic
Games and was the 2001 USA champion in both the shot put and
discus, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since 1994.
While at UCLA, Sua won six NCAA titles, including four consecutive
discus throw titles.
MORE COACHING CHANGES: Another new addition to the UCLA track
and field family is volunteer coach Scott Abbott, a distance runner
and team captain for UCLA from 1998-2001. In 2000, as a junior,
Abbott ran in every major meet but the NCAA West Regional,
including season-best finishes of fifth at the Long Beach State
Invite and sixth at the Fullerton Invite. He placed 47th at the
Pac-10 Regionals and as a senior, Abbott ran personal bests of
15:05.93 in the 5000m and 31:47.85 in the 10,000m. Abbott will be
coaching alongside Peterson in the distance program.