It’s often said that history has a way of repeating itself. Unfortunately, that was not true for the UCLA women’s track and field team this past weekend.
The Bruins were defeated 86-77 by USC in what was UCLA’s first dual-meet loss to the Trojans in 15 years. It was also the first time in her tenure at UCLA that coach Jeanette Bolden has lost to the Trojans.
“‘SC was supposed to win this meet,” Bolden said. “They left the door open for us a few times, and we didn’t step up and do what it takes to claim the victory.”
USC did not run top sprinter Carol Rodriguez in the 4×100 meter relay, but the Bruins were unable to take advantage. The team had two bad handoffs with the baton that cost valuable time.
The Trojans also came up big in the throws, tallying wins in the hammer, discus and javelin.
Despite the loss, UCLA was able to put up some impressive marks and beat the Trojans in some surprising places.
Senior Jolanda Diego edged Rodriguez in the 200m to place first with a lifetime best 23.14 seconds.
“It felt really good,” Diego said. “All this training I’ve been doing ““ I’m happy it finally paid off somewhere.”
Making the win even more impressive is the fact that Rodriguez came into the meet ranked third in the nation in the 200m. Diego’s time was good for No. 8 on the all-time UCLA list and tied her for 11th in the nation this season.
One of the other standout races came in the 800m: Sophomore Krishna Curry led a Bruin sweep with a lifetime-best race of 2:08.64. Freshman Cobbie Jones came from behind to take second with a time of 2:13.89, and junior Gabrielle Bournes placed third with a time of 2:14.96.
“I’m just glad that our crew performed to the best of our ability and got some points for our team,” Curry said.
Jones was in fourth place coming down the final stretch when she made a big move to finish in second place.
“I just saw my teammates ahead of me and the ‘SC girl,” Jones said. “I just couldn’t bear to have the ‘SC person in front of me.”
Fueled by the cheers from the crowd and her teammates, Jones was able to dig deep and make the passes to finish second with less than 75 meters to go in the race.
Also highlighting the day for the Bruins was junior Nicole Leach. Leach finished second in the 400m race with a time of 51.69 seconds, good for No. 2 in the nation and a lifetime best for Leach.
“As much as I wanted to open up good, I knew staying within my race and competing and running well for the team is more important than anything else,” Leach said.
Leach also ran in the 400m hurdles, where she placed first with a time of 55.37 seconds ““ also the No. 2 time in the nation this season and a new national dual-meet record.
As has happened many times this season, the Bruins’ jumpers came up big, sweeping both the pole vault and the high jump.
Freshman Tori Anthony led the pole vault sweep, winning the event with a score of 13 feet, 7.25 inches.
Freshman Tori Pena placed second with a lifetime best of 13-3.5, and senior Ingrid Kantola placed third with a score of 12-7.5.
In the high jump, senior Allison Miller snatched up first place for the Bruins with a score of 5-8.75, followed by junior Rhonda Watkins in second (5-7) and senior Keneisha Creary in third (5-7).
Watkins also won the long jump, while senior Renee Williams jumped into the No. 2 spot in both the long and triple jump.
Even with the loss, the Bruins were not hanging their heads in shame.
“I told (the team) afterward: “˜Never get used to losing,'” jumps coach Mike Powell said. “It’s not fun, but as long as you compete your best, you’ll feel your best, and that’s OK.”
Leach echoed Powell’s sentiment and said she’d use this loss as motivation going into the postseason.
“I’m definitely disappointed,” Leach said. “I didn’t want to be on the streak-breaking team. We will just take this anger going into NCAAs. I know after this meet this weekend it’s very possible we can come out No. 1 at NCAAs.”