The men’s and women’s track teams competed in just
their second outdoor meet this season, taking part in the Cal State
Northridge Invitational over the weekend.
Both squads were carrying incomplete teams, though the athletes
who were present posted impressive marks. In the throws, sophomore
John Caulfield ““ fresh off of his appearance at last
weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships ““ won the discus
event, improving upon his regional qualifying mark with a throw of
185-9. The next closest competitor was fellow Bruin Jason Rider,
who took second with a mark of 175-5.
Competing for the first time outdoors after recovering from a
high ankle sprain, senior Jeremy Silverman placed fifth with a toss
of 164-4.
On the track for the men, senior Martell Munguia led a Bruin
one-two-three finish in the 1500 meter race, with a time of
3:51.35. Munguia was followed by teammates Mickey Corbin and Mike
Haddan.
For the women’s team, Dawn Harper followed up her
All-American performance last weekend in the hurdles, with a solid
victory in the 100-meter dash. The senior was the only sprinter to
break twelve seconds, posting a time of 11.89.
Junior Ashley Caldwell, running in her first 800 meter event of
the outdoor season, won her signature event easily in 2:11.82.
Senior Leslie Barrie also recorded a win for the Bruins as she
crossed the line in first place in the 1500 meter contest with a
lifetime best time of 4:29.31.
The Bruins also won both horizontal jumping events, with
freshman Rhonda Watkins leaping to a regional qualifying score of
20-4.25 in the long jump in her first meet as a Bruin.
In the triple jump, sophomore transfer Nicole Duhart took the
event with a jump of 40-7.50, also a regional qualifying mark.
JOHNSON HONORED: UCLA senior pole vaulter
Chelsea Johnson was named NCAA Indoor Athlete of the Year after
winning the individual NCAA title in the pole vault last weekend in
Fayetteville, Arkansas.
“This definitely comes as a big surprise for me,”
Johnson said. “I feel really honored because there were so
many great athletes, and so many great performances this
year.”
Johnson won the indoor crown last weekend with a jump of 14-9,
but did not reach her all-time record. Johnson set that record when
she won the NCAA outdoor pole vault title in 2004 with an
NCAA-record jump of 15-0.
She had three attempts at a new collegiate indoor record of
15-1, but did not clear the height. Nonetheless, Johnson remains
excited about the outdoor season.
“It is really exciting, and (the award) is only going to
give me even more momentum,” Johnson said.
At the MPSF Championships, Johnson won with a mark of
14-5.25.
Johnson opened her outdoor season two weeks ago with a mark of
14-3.25.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: The track team will have a
week off for final exams before returning to competition in the
Stanford Invitational from March 31 to April 1. Part of the team
will also travel to the Cal/Nevada Championships in Fresno.