Kevin Craddock looked like a seasoned veteran on Saturday,
blowing away the rest of the collegiate field. It is hard to think
this was the freshman’s first collegiate race and even harder
to believe he hasn’t raced in nearly a year.
Craddock was the first collegian across the line in the
400-meter hurdles at the UCLA Track and Field Invitational,
finishing more than two seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
The non-scoring meet was the first outdoor competition for the
Bruins this year and served as the season debut for athletes who
did not compete indoors.
After suffering a severe hamstring injury during his senior year
of high school, Craddock had no idea what to expect from his first
race as a Bruin.
“I didn’t really know where I was at, but I got out
there and just went for it,” said Craddock, whose time of
52.27 was a new personal best. “It feels good to put on the
blue and gold and represent the school for the first time. It is a
big deal for me.”
Craddock’s regional qualifying mark for the race was
second only to that of former Bruin All-American Jonathan Williams,
who was competing unattached.
Though the precocious hurdler had a huge day on the track, his
performance was only one of many impressive opening-season marks by
first-year Bruins.
On the women’s side, heralded recruit Nicole Leach
dismantled the rest of the field in the 400-meter dash, winning the
event in 52.46.
Leach went on to place second in the 200-meter dash as well,
finishing just behind senior All-American teammate Dawn Harper.
“I’m really impressed with my times,” said
Leach, who ran regional qualifying times in both events.
“I’m not used to running outdoors this early, so I
really feel that I can improve.”
UCLA’s other freshman phenoms also made a great impact in
the field.
Boldizsar Kocsor made his debut, winning the hammer throw with a
new lifetime-best mark of 197-6.
In the high jump, Trinidad and Tobago national junior record
holder Rhonda Watkins cleared 5-10 to tie for first with redshirt
senior teammate Caroline Sommers.
While these newcomers made great first impressions, the
upperclassmen still dominated the afternoon. In the pole vault,
senior Chelsea Johnson easily won, clearing 14-3.
“The winds were kind of swirling, but I feel like I put up
a good first outdoor mark,” Johnson said. “I had the
next bar (14-7) but I just couldn’t quite get over
it.”
Harper, who will be competing in the NCAA Indoor Championships
next weekend in the 60-meter hurdles indoors, not only won the 200
meters but also handily won the 100-meter dash.
In the throws, sophomore John Caulfield opened up the season
with a solid performance ““ his winning throw of 184-6 in the
discus was a new lifetime best.
The Bruins will be heading to Fayetteville, Ark., this weekend
for the NCAA Indoor National Championships before coming back to
Southern California for the CSU Northridge Invitational, which will
be held from March 15-18.