She was a cut above the competition at last weekend’s dual
meet against USC, but now UCLA’s Sheena Johnson is stepping
up in class.
When Johnson steps to the starting line in the 100- and
400-meter hurdles at the UCLA Invitational on Saturday at Drake
Stadium, a host of world-class athletes will be in the blocks
alongside of her.
Former world champion heptathlete Eunice Barber and Canadian
champion Nicole Haynes headline the 100-meter hurdles field while
former Bruin NCAA champion Joanna Hayes will compete in the
400.
Johnson, who posted a personal best 13.34 seconds in the
100-meters against the Trojans, will need to at least duplicate
that effort to have a chance to win Saturday.
Win or lose, Johnson and the Bruins will treat the meet as
preparation for the Pac-10 Championships, as they square off
against athletes from Long Beach State, as well as a select group
from the professional ranks.
The No. 4 women’s squad will be looking for someone to
fill the shoes of senior Tiffany Burgess in the 800m after Burgess
underwent season-ending surgery on a fractured right toe last
week.
Four Bruins will run in the event including junior Lena Nilsson,
the NCAA champion in the 1500m. If no one else emerges in the next
few weeks, Nilsson may be asked to run in both the 800 and 1500m at
the conference meet and the NCAA Regionals.
In the women’s pole vaulting competition, freshman Chelsea
Johnson, fresh off a personal record mark of 13 feet, 6 1/4 inches
against USC, will look to build on that performance. Among those
she will compete against is former Bruin legend and reigning NCAA
champion Tracy O’Hara, who will return to run in Westwood for
the second time since graduating last year.
On the men’s side, the No. 19 Bruins will be looking to
capitalize on the momentum from their one-point victory against the
No. 3 Trojans last weekend.
Dan Ames headlines a Bruin throwing corps that is among the best
in the nation. The junior currently sits third nationally in the
shot put and will look to climb the national charts even further
Saturday.
Ames will also be the favorite in the discus competition where
he will be challenged by fellow Bruin Jeremy Silverman among
others.