by blair angulo
Bruin Sports contributor
bangulo@media.ucla.edu
The UCLA men’s cross country team has high expectations for its upcoming season, returning a deep squad of 13 runners and welcoming 11 talented freshmen. Led by coach Eric Peterson, the Bruins hope to build upon last year’s strong season.
The team enters the year ranked at No. 4 in the Western region and No. 22 in the country by USA Track & Field.
“Last season was a landmark year for our program,” Peterson said. “It was the first team in 21 years to go to Nationals.”
The Bruins placed 23rd out of 31 teams in last year’s NCAA Championships.
Getting a taste of the postseason has left the team thirsty for more this year. They have been participating in altitude training at Mammoth Lakes and Lake Tahoe to better prepare for normal settings.
“The high-altitude element allows us to log many miles per week,” explained Peterson. “Doing that at high elevation produces more red blood cells, so it is beneficial when we get back to sea level where there is more oxygen in the air.”
The results from the first meet indicate that the training is paying dividends. The men placed first at the Nevada Twilight Cross Country Classic held on Aug. 31 in Reno, Nev. without the participation of any seniors. They were led by junior Laef Barnes with a time of 19:40 in the 6-kilometer race. Seven Bruins finished in the top 10.
“We learned that we’re a deep team,” Peterson said. “We have talent and depth for the first time in many, many years. We also hope to become more consistent this year.”
A mixture of upperclassman experience and heralded incoming freshmen talent makes UCLA an intriguing team.
“In terms of senior leadership, I look at Austin Ramos to lead the way,” Peterson said. “Our freshmen make one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. Seven of them are nationally ranked in their individual track events. I am really looking forward to a contribution from our freshmen this year.”
There are nine scheduled meets, including two trips to Eugene, Ore., and one to Corvallis, Ore., for the Pac-10 Championships.
“We are really looking forward to the Bill Dellinger Invitational up in Eugene and the Pre-National Invitational at Terre Haute,” Peterson said. “Our team will run against national-caliber teams and we are looking to show well.”
The Bruins hope to end their season on a high note on Nov. 19 at Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind.
“This season, we set our expectations and goals,” Peterson said. “We want to place top-10 in the nation and be one of the Pac-10’s elite teams, and we feel like we have the personnel to do so.”
Up next for the Bruins is the Pepperdine Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 22, in Malibu.