Squad looking for redemption at conference championships

By Dylan Hernandez
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

After years of being kicked around by the rest of the Pac-10,
the UCLA men’s cross country team will return to the
conference championships this weekend seeking to restore
respectability.

For many of the Bruins, past races at the Pac-10 finals have
made for painful memories.

Senior Mason Moore remembers his first Pac-10 meet quite well.
It was two years ago in Eugene, Ore., and the Bruins were met by
rain and 35-degree temperature.

Although Mark Hauser, who has since graduated, placed fifth
overall, UCLA finished last as a team.

“That was pretty horrible,” Moore said. “It
taught us a lot. We tried to get ourselves reorganized after
that.”

Last year wasn’t much better. Paul Muite, then a junior,
didn’t even finish the race, when it was held in Long Beach,
Calif. Running in extreme heat, Muite went out too hard, dehydrated
and faded badly before stopping.

UCLA, also hurt by the absence of a sick Will Bernaldo, finished
7th of eight teams.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s race, Muite said, “I
have to make up for last year. I’m not worried on an
individual basis, though. I just want to make sure the team has a
good race.”

Muite’s attitude reflects that of the team since it has
come under Eric Peterson. In their first season under Peterson, the
Bruins have put individual goals beneath those of the squad and
have raced surprisingly well.

Heading into the weekend, UCLA has a string of solid races
behind it and is feeling good.

“Team-wise, we’re all pretty confident,” said
senior team captain Scott Abbott. “We’re eager to see
where we stack up.”

The Bruins, who have been paced by junior Bryan Green all
season, will battle a field featuring three nationally ranked
teams.

No. 3 Stanford will be the overwhelming favorite to regain the
title it lost to Arizona last year. The Cardinal will be led by
seniors Thomas Murley and Jonathan Riley, who finished second and
third, respectively, at the NCAA Pre National Invitational two
weeks ago. They’ll be accompanied by redshirt freshman Louie
Luchini (8th at Pre Nationals) and true freshman Don Sage, who ran
the mile in four minutes last year as a prep senior.

Senior Mike Cramer is expected to carry No. 10 Arizona, which
will also get help from senior David Lopez and junior Steve
Smith.

No. 13 Oregon, meanwhile, has a deadly 1-2 duo in sophomore
Jason Hartmann and Michael Kasahun.

After that, the field is wide open with Arizona State,
Washington, Washington State, Cal and UCLA all with the potential
to squeeze into the next spot.

“We’re looking for a top-four finish,”
Peterson said. “We just have to do a better job of
finishing.”

The Bruins will be looking at Washington in particular, after
losing narrowly to the Huskies twice this season. Both times, UCLA
was ahead going into the final mile.

“I think that knowing that fact will motivate us,”
Abbott said. “If nothing else, we’ve been there with
them until the end. They’ve just been a little tougher down
the stretch.”

Besides Green, Moore, Muite and Abbott, juniors Andrew Wulf and
Justin Patananan will be competing for the Bruins, along with true
freshman Jon Rankin.

The race, set to begin at 12:15, will be run at Lincoln Park in
Seattle.

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