The UCLA men’s track and field team went to the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational to assess the national competition. They came away with three performances that rank in the nation’s top five, proving the Bruins have some athletes who will be competing for an NCAA Championship this season.
“We were successful in moving some of our front-line people to better positions on the NCAA list,” coach Art Venegas said. “Overall, things went really well.”
Leading the Bruins on Friday was redshirt senior Boldizsar Kocsor who shone in the weight throw.
Kocsor’s lifetime-best throw easily won the event by more than 4 feet. The 70-10.75 throw bettered his previous best by more than 9 inches and moves him into the No. 4 spot on the NCAA list for the season. His performance also ensures him an automatic bid for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Redshirt sophomore Johnny Quinn also had a big weekend, taking second overall. For the second weekend in a row, Quinn jumped a lifetime best and moved himself into the NCAA top three. His most recent jump brings his all-time height up to 17-8.50 and earned an NCAA provisional qualifier.
Overall, the vault squad did very well, taking home four of the top six spots.
“The vault crew looked pretty good,” Venegas said. “They are still doing a good job, and they are making it close to getting national qualifying marks that will get them in the national meet.”
Rounding out the Bruins’ top-five-in-the-nation performances was senior Kevin Craddock. Craddock finished second overall with a 7.79 finish in the 60-meter hurdles. He earned himself an NCAA provisional qualifier and the fifth spot in the nation.
“Kevin Craddock looked a lot more active and aggressive in his hurdles,” Venegas said.
Also performing well for the Bruins were sophomore Jonathan Clark, redshirt sophomore Bo Taylor and junior Marlon Patterson.
Clark took third in the triple jump with a 50-2.50 effort.
“Clark got through all his jumps and was looking consistent,” Venegas said. “He just needs to just sharpen it up a little because he was out for so long.”
According to Venegas, Patterson ran a “very impressive” 4:03.07 in the mile to take second place. The time was a lifetime-best for him as well as an NCAA provisional qualifier.
Taylor finished second in the shot put behind the national leader and continues to show consistency.
SIGNING DAY: On national signing day, the Bruins signed four standout high school athletes in Maxwell Dyce, Mason Finley, Matt Kosecki and Zachary Torres.
Finley is the top high school discus thrower in the country and is currently ranked second in the indoor shot put.
Joining Finley at the top of the discus list is fellow thrower Kosecki who ranks in the top three.
Dyce is a sprinter who ranks third in the 100 meter heading into the current season.
Distance runner Torres was the runner-up at the California State meet last season.
Two more athletes will contribute to the UCLA team next year, having signed with football but also being extraordinary track athletes.
Damien Thigpen is a two-time Virginia state champion in the 300-meter hurdles, and Randall Carroll is the fastest high school sprinter in the state of California. Carroll tops the list in the 100 meter and 200 meter and was state champion in both events last year.