The women’s track team will come out from the shadows of the indoor season into the sunshine for their first outdoor meet of the year.
This Saturday, the women, along with the men’s team, will host the UCLA Invitational at Drake Stadium. After a subpar showing during the indoor meets this year, the squad is looking for a fresh start in what they feel is their better environment.
“I just want everyone to compete well and do as well as they can right now,” coach Jeanette Bolden said. “They can get the jitters out and have a good time and have fun this weekend. The weather should be good, and it will be a great time and good to represent UCLA.”
The Bruins had a rough indoor season and only sent small groups to meets throughout the country. The team finished ninth in the MPSF Indoor Championships last week with only 15 athletes.
“I think everyone is excited for the indoors to be over with and see how the team bonds as a group,” Bolden said. “We haven’t gotten together as a group all season.”
Bolden used indoors to get her athletes ready for outdoors. With most of the team competing, the athletes are finally ready to perform well in a track meet setting.
Because this is only the first meet, athletes will participate in different events than they are used to. One goal is to have some jumpers and longer distance runners run sprints to work on their speed. Sprinters will be running 200 meters and 400 meters.
“We will use this early meet as a stepping stone to get some people more speed and some more strength,” Bolden said. “We will try to mix some things around … and see how everyone does in their off events.”
Several Bruins will be making their season debuts this weekend with the start of the outdoor season. Junior All-American Rhonda Watkins highlights the list and will compete in the 100m and long jump. Watkins was the 2007 indoor and outdoor NCAA long jump champion, and she looks to have a strong start Saturday in order to defend her crown.
Senior Keneisha Creary will also debut in the long jump, shot put and javelin. Freshman Ke’Nyia Richardson, a highly touted recruit from Oakland, will compete in the triple jump. The team will also have 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
The UCLA Invitational will begin at 9 a.m. and run all day. The last event is scheduled for 4 p.m.
“It should be a good meet. We’re looking for a good time,” Bolden said.
While the team will stay put in Los Angeles, four pole vaulters will travel to Washington for the NCAA Last Chance Qualifier to vie for a spot in the indoor NCAA Championships.
“We’re going to miss our pole vaulters, but we wish them well,” Bolden said.
Ingrid Kantola, Tori Anthony, Megan Jamerson and Katy Viuf will try to move up the provisional list to get a better chance to qualify.
“I think they are on a roll, and things are going well,” Bolden said. “Because they are so close and have the opportunity to make it to nationals, they are going to Washington.”
The athletes are hoping to reach that higher bar that will pull them into the top group of qualifiers.
“We are trying to get our best mark,” Kantola said. “If we don’t get it, we don’t get in. We are working really well as a team. … There is no reason no one can’t make it.”