For the first time this year, the Bruins can break out the
sunscreen.
Both the men’s and women’s track teams will open up
the outdoor season this weekend as Drake Stadium hosts the second
annual UCLA Track and Field Invitational. After two months of
indoor competition in far-off destinations, both teams are looking
forward to competing at home in the sunshine.
“This will be the first time that our local fans and
college kids get to see our team and how it’s starting to
shape up for the rest of the season,” men’s coach Art
Venegas said.
This weekend’s meet marks the first competition of the
year for several athletes, including heralded freshmen hurdler
Kevin Craddock.
Craddock, who was held out of the indoor season to ensure a full
recovery from a hamstring injury suffered during his senior year at
James Logan High, will enter his first race as a Bruin on Saturday
when he runs the 400-meter hurdles. Venegas plans to ease Craddock
into the season, putting as little pressure on the promising young
hurdler as possible.
“He needs to be healthy and he needs to be
comfortable,” Venegas said.
“I think it will be important for the experienced athletes
to take the bulk of the responsibilities and let Kevin come around,
and if he comes around at a high level, he will step up and do what
he has to do. He’s a champion.”
Though it was hard for the freshman to watch as his teammates
competed in January and February, Craddock knows that he needs to
be healthy in order to contribute outdoors.
“It was pretty hard to not be able to run when I thought
that I could have helped them out with some points at the MPSF
meet,” Craddock said. “But I knew it would be taking a
chance on getting hurt again and I know I can help the team out
more outdoors.”
Spectators will also be able to see senior Chelsea Johnson in
the pole vault as she prepares for next weekend’s NCAA Indoor
National Championships. Johnson, who owns the outdoor collegiate
record of 15 feet, has set her sights on breaking the indoor mark
as well.
“I’m definitely going in with the mindset that
I’m going to win the meet,” said Johnson of next
weekend’s national championships. “I want to break the
indoor record (14-10) and my training has been going very well, so
I feel like I can accomplish that.”
Other marquee athletes who will be in action at Drake Stadium
include throwers John Caulfield and Kamaiya Warren, both of whom
will be throwing the discus for the first time this year as they
have only been competing in the shot put indoors.
The pair will more than likely be headed to Arkansas next
weekend for the national championships as well.
Field events will begin at 9 a.m. with the women’s hammer,
while the track races will begin at noon starting with the
women’s steeplechase. Admission is free for all UCLA
students.