Following mixed results at the Pac-10 Championships last
Saturday, the UCLA cross country team has had to reconsider its
goals for the rest of the season. Reflecting on the weekend’s
performances, coach Eric Peterson looks at the result sheet with
mingled pride and disappointment. “All teams saw one of their
best runners fall to the lower hand of the pack, and that is how we
finished sixth and seventh,” Peterson said. “Cross
country is a team sport, and although I am very impressed with
three of our individual performances, the aim is to be competitive
as a whole.” A team qualification for the NCAA nationals on
both sides now seems improbable, a situation the UCLA squad is
unaccustomed to. “It was unfortunate to run the way we did,
especially on the women’s side, where we had made it a habit
to move forward,” said Peterson. Despite the disheartening
team results, individual runners Ashley Caldwell, Austin Ramos and
Mike Haddan remain hopeful about a qualification for the NCAA
Individual Championships, and possibly even garnering All-American
honors. “I am extremely proud of them,” Peterson said.
“Our training is now turned toward giving these three runners
the best preparation for the Regional Championships in two
weeks.” Discussing their potential at this event, it seems as
though they have what it takes to appear on the front line in Terre
Haute, Ind., the site of this year’s NCAA Championship meet.
Caldwell, a junior, has been very competitive throughout the
season, while Ramos’ chances are also high. He finished fifth
at the Pac-10 Championships and consistently ran ahead of the
competition at the Regional Championships, Cal Poly and Portland,
as well. Regarding Haddan’s surprising burst in the top six
in Arizona last weekend, however, coach Peterson was at a loss for
words. “To be honest,” Peterson said. “I do not
know what to expect from Mike anymore. We knew he had potential,
but I have to admit I did not expect him to finish among the top 10
runners.” The sophomore runner’s breakthrough
performance shows just how much potential he has. Peterson said he
believes that if Haddan continues to pace Ramos as he did at the
Pac-10 Championships, he has what it takes to run up front and
possibly compete for an All-American spot. If Haddan runs well once
again, the Bruins may have a chance at keeping their slim NCAA
chances alive. “The qualifying process team-wise is
complicated, but we would have to win or come second (at the
Western Regional) to qualify,” Peterson said. “This
last meet will serve more as a way to finish the season with pride,
since our focus will now be on getting those individuals the best
shot at qualifying for the NCAA Championship.”
INJURY UPDATE: Freshman Lindsay DelaMontaigne
is recovering at home following health concerns in Tucson, Ariz.,
last Friday that prevented her from finishing the race. She is
expected to rejoin her teammates in Westwood, today. However,
Peterson believes that she will not compete for the rest of the
season as the medical staff evaluates her condition. Though
DelaMontaigne apparently had a few similar instances during high
school, Peterson is more intent upon the reasons behind her recent
shortcomings, not those of the past. “I am more interested to
find out why she failed to finish the past two meets than discuss
the fact that she did not see the finish line,” Peterson
said. “Until test results come out, she will not be
competing, and she will start training again when we think it is
appropriate.” Ciara Viehweg, who also failed to finish
Saturday’s race, is not expected to miss any time.