In their last meet before the start of the postseason, the men’s and women’s track and field teams turned in more solid results over the weekend and look to carry the momentum into the upcoming meets.
The teams sent athletes to two meets, the Modesto Relays and the Occidental Invitational, to tune up for the postseason and to send off on a high note those who will not make the postseason roster.
“It was good for everyone to go out there and get things done,” pole vault coach Anthony Curran said. “The guys needed a tune-up before the Pac-10 (Championships).”
The two highlights from Occidental came from junior Gabrielle Bournes and freshman Dylan Knight.
Bournes ran a lifetime best in the 800 meters and placed fourth with a time of 2:11.15.
Knight won the steeplechase with a huge lifetime-best improvement of nine seconds, bettering his time to 8:58.36.
“Every single time, he has taken significant amounts of time off of his run,” distance coach Eric Peterson said. “He has taken to steeple in a way we hoped and expected. It’s nice to see it’s showing.”
In the 1500m, sophomore Marlon Patterson also ran a lifetime best of 3:47.77. He joined Knight as the two Bruins who picked up regional qualifying times over the weekend.
At Modesto, Greg Garza showed why he is a two-time All-American.
Throwing a season best of 204 feet, 9 inches, Garza moved to No. 2 in the national rankings and was the top collegiate finisher at the meet and fifth overall in the discus. Professionals also competed at Modesto to train for the Olympic trials.
In the hammer, junior Boldizsar Kocsor was also the top collegiate finisher by throwing 221-3, just short of his lifetime best. Kocsor came in second overall.
Freshman Jonathan Clark had four jumps over 50 feet in the triple jump and finished at 51-3.50 to place fourth and in the top collegiate spot.
In the pole vault, redshirt junior Dustin DeLeo tied for first at 17-2.75, and junior Bobby Talley earned a lifetime best at 16-8.75, tying him for seventh along with redshirt freshman Johnny Quinn.
On the women’s side, junior Katy Viuf cleared 13-1.50 to place fifth, and senior Ingrid Kantola tied for sixth at the same height.
Moving on to next week, the Bruins will go to Tempe, Ariz., to compete at the Pac-10 Championships and begin their postseason.
“The athletes that have come through in the clutch are still coming through,” said Curran. “There are no big surprises there, but it will be tough narrowing down who will go.”
On the men’s side there are about 35 athletes vying for a spot on the Pac-10 roster.
Only 28 athletes are allowed on each team, so the coaching staff will have some decisions to make this week.
“We now have to sit down as staff and figure out who will make 28-man rosters,” said Peterson. “A few of those final decisions will be based on this weekend.”
After the Pac-10 Championships, there will be a two-week break before the West Regionals and then two more weeks until nationals in June. Now is the time for the Bruins to have their seasons peak.
With the way things look now, the teams hope their goal to be national contenders will come true, but first they have to focus on next weekend.
“We are really getting ready for the big time, and Pac-10s are the start of that,” said Curran. “It really doesn’t get started until the Pac-10s.”