Fresh air might be the cure for the UCLA men’s track and
field team. Following the Bruins’ disappointing showing at
the NCAA Indoor Championships, they now shift their focus to the
outdoor season as they travel to Northridge to compete in the CSUN
Invitational on Friday. After the Bruins registered only two points
at their weekend meet, coach Art Venegas was not at all satisfied.
“We didn’t bring in more people, so that limited our
scoring potential,” he said. Additionally, the Bruin
4×400-meter relay team, ranked third going in, had a shaky start
and placed seventh. Nevertheless, Venegas had the team move on and
prepare for what lies ahead. Despite being the first outdoor meet,
the CSUN Invitational is not the most important competition of the
season. “It’s just a warm-up,” Venegas said.
“Mainly for backup athletes that haven’t been worn in
during the indoor season.” An outdoor meet with greater
significance is the Stanford Invitational, in two weeks. There
Venegas will be putting his key athletes into the competition.
Despite the highly anticipated freshman competitors, Venegas still
believes the team is led by upperclassmen. “(We are) a
well-balanced team with a lot of experience. Definitely not a young
team, so we depend on our veterans,” he said. He firmly
believes success lies in the team’s ability to improve and
stay healthy. If the Bruins are capable of both, there is no
question whether they will be a potent force in the Pac-10.
WOMEN’S TRACK: The women will compete as
well, traveling with the men to Northridge. Like the men, they will
be carrying a limited squad to the San Fernando Valley, giving an
opportunity for younger athletes to see some early-season
competition. Fresh off her national championship in the pole vault,
the status of senior Chelsea Johnson for this weekend’s meet
is still up in the air, as she is looking to nurse a tight leg
muscle that gave her trouble last weekend in Fayetteville, Ark.
INJURIES: Jeremy Silverman, one of the premier
throwers for the Bruins, is finally returning to the lineup. After
suffering an ankle sprain, the redshirt senior will once again
throw the discus at Northridge, and he said he feels confident in
his ability to perform. “I will be back rolling pretty
soon,” Silverman said. Although he is not yet fully
recovered, his expectations of placing high marks for the NCAA seem
unfazed.