The NCAA Championships are the pinnacle of the collegiate track and field season. It is what every athlete works for the whole season in hopes of individual success and team glory.
Simply put, the competition can define college careers.
For 13 Bruin men, their hard work and dedication will be realized this week in Des Moines, Iowa.
“We felt pretty good at both Pac-10 and regionals,” coach Art Venegas said. “I think we are still building nicely, so I feel really good about the team right now heading into nationals.”
For three seniors, it will be their last chance to compete in blue and gold, which makes the desire to perform well even more tangible.
“It’s basically kind of all or nothing right now,” senior Henry Hagenbuch said. “This whole season coach Venegas has been telling us we are definitely a trophy-contending team, so if we can finish in that regard it would be huge for us.”
Hagenbuch, who qualified second in the 3000-meter steeplechase, also looks to others on the team to put up strong performances and give the team an opportunity for a favorable finish.
“With teammates like Greg (Garza) and Kevin (Craddock), with their base score, we should be able to have a pretty good showing,” Hagenbuch said. “Obviously I want to help out in whichever way I can.”
Junior Kevin Craddock and redshirt senior Greg Garza are two Bruins who are expected to make a big showing at nationals in the 110m hurdles and the discus, respectively.
“I want to win,” Garza said. “I know I can beat these guys. I had to stop throwing (at regionals), and I know I can compete better. I’m going to try and do that at nationals.”
Among the Bruin throwers going, sophomore Darius Savage and redshirt senior John Caulfield will both compete in the shot put and the discus.
While Caulfield automatically qualified in the shot put and received an at-large bid in the discus, Savage automatically qualified in the discus and received an at-large big in the shot put.
Also participating in the discus will be sophomore Bo Taylor, who received an at-large bid. Redshirt junior Boldizsar Kocsor will represent UCLA in the hammer throw.
Redshirt junior Dustin DeLeo, who qualified in the pole vault, and junior Laef Barnes, who received an at-large bid for the 1500m, round out the older portion of the Bruin squad.
Venegas will look for some of his veterans to help lead the team.
“Obviously the primary people are those who have scored in the past. They’ve been there, they’ve experienced it,” said Venegas. “Craddock, Garza, Caulfield, Kocsor and DeLeo ““ those are kids that have been there and experienced the thrill of scoring and being an All-American.”
A contingency of four freshmen will compete along with these qualifiers. The freshmen include Cory Primm, Taylor Hobson, Jonathan Clark and redshirt freshman Johnny Quinn. Besides Quinn, who will be joining DeLeo in the pole vault, these freshmen will be the lone Bruins in their respective events.
Primm will run in the 800m, Clark will compete in the triple jump, and Hobson will compete in the high jump.
“I’m a lot more anxious just because this is a huge leap for me,” Hobson said. “I’m just going in with a level head and pray I can get to the finals. That will be the next big leap for me and next year just get back here again.”
Even though they are just freshmen, Venegas is not ruling them out as a factor at nationals.
“We have some young kids that are very gifted, and they are very confident,” Venegas said. “They’re great competitors, so I could see some of those guys scoring some points for us.”
With the national team set, the Bruins will head to Iowa with their heads held high ready to do their best and prove to the nation that they belong at the top.
“I want to do well, not only for my own personal achievement, but to help out the team as much as possible,” Hagenbuch said. “It is a privilege to be part of such a Division I powerhouse with regards to sports. To be a factor for scoring for the team at nationals is an honor; I’m going to leave it all on the track.”