When a team is ranked in the top 10, a lot is expected out of each performance.
This past weekend the No. 7 men’s track team delivered that type of performance, taking the team title at the Cal-Nevada Championships in Fresno with 238 points.
The closest team was Fresno State with 165 points.
“Rankings are nice to have,” coach Art Venegas said. “I feel like the team has a lot to improve on to be placed with the elite teams.”
One athlete proving the team deserves its rank is redshirt senior John Caulfield. After earning All-American honors for the indoor season, Caulfield continued his brilliant season by winning the discus (197 feet, 10 inches) and shot put (62-7.75) with personal bests.
“(The marks were) definitely better than what I have done in the past,” Caulfield said. “I was pleased with the shot put and definitely pleased with the discus.”
The throw in the discus was a personal best by six feet and is the No. 1 mark in the country.
The throwing team had a strong performance by sweeping the shot put and qualifying for NCAA regionals. Sophomore Darius Savage finished second with a new lifetime best of 59-9.75 and redshirt freshman Bo Taylor placed third with his personal record of 59-2.
Another Bruin to win his event was redshirt junior Boldizsar Kocsor. He won the hammer throw with a mark of 217-3. On Friday during preliminaries Kocsor tossed a lifetime best of 222-6 to break the UCLA junior class record of 218-5, held by David Wilson since 1988.
“It was a great way to start (the outdoor) season,” Kocsor said. “Hopefully we can keep on building and peak at the right time for nationals.”
Rounding out the group of seven event winners were senior Henry Hagenbuch, with a lifetime best 3:50.65 in the 1,500 meters, and junior Elijah Wells, whose time of 48.02 earned him a first place finish in the 400m. Freshman Jonathan Clark won the triple jump with a mark of 49-9.25, qualifying him for regionals. Redshirt freshman Johnny Quinn reached a height of 17-0.75 for a new personal best and first place finish in the pole vault.
“We’re really excited about where the team is going,” Venegas said. “I’m pleased with the performances, and there has been a big improvement in a lot of areas.”
Two of the team’s captains made their outdoor debuts: Two-time All-American Greg Garza placed fourth in the discus with a throw of 194-9, and junior Kevin Craddock came in seventh in the 400m hurdles with a time of 58.05
After easily winning the Cal-Nevada Championships and with all the high marks, the Bruins will hope to maintain the strong performances.
“This has been a good starting point,” Caulfield said. “It lets everyone know (this season) is different. Everything is more serious, and we want people to take notice.”