Three weeks into the season, the UCLA track and field team puts the focus on strengths – not weaknesses – as the Bruins have started well with the help of effective team leadership.
The women rank No. 10 in the nation thanks to key contributions from veteran players.
Junior sprinter/jumper Kylie Price has led the way for the women’s team in the past two weeks. She placed first in the women’s long jump at the New Mexico Team Invitational, and she won the women’s 60 meters this past weekend at the Texas A&M; Invitational.
Redshirt junior distance runner Kelsey Smith has also had promising performances to guide the women’s team. Smith placed first in the second section of the women’s one-mile at the NAU Invitational, and she placed fifth in the second section of the women’s 3000m at the UW Invitational in the face of stiffer competition.
“On the women’s side, Kelsey Smith and Kylie Price have stepped up as two of the leaders, performance-wise, on the team,” said track and field director Mike Maynard.
While the men aren’t as highly ranked as the women, they have shown great early season poise as well.
Freshman Braheme Days and redshirt sophomore Nicholas Scarvelis have both won the shot put at the New Mexico Team Invitational and Texas A&M; Invitational, respectively, while senior Mike Woepse has stepped up with two first-place victories in the pole vault at NAU and New Mexico.
But, Maynard highlights sophomore Nick Hartle for being one of the true “come-throughs” so far this season in the men’s distance.
Hartle had two first-place finishes at NAU, a fourth-place finish in the mile at New Mexico and a second-place finish in the men’s 800m this past weekend at Texas A&M.;
The Bruins certainly have plenty of strengths heading deeper into the season, Maynard said, and there’s simply no time to focus on the weaknesses as the team takes steps forward.
“I’m a coach, I’m not about weaknesses, I’m about strengths. In track, it’s not about where you’re weak, it’s about where you’re strong,” Maynard said.
Compiled by Alexander Hyun, Bruin Sports contributor.