M. track looks to old faithfuls, new faces in final home
meet
Godina, Johnson look for records, Hassan debuts
By Tim Costner
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
The UCLA men’s track and field team will host its final home
meet of the season this Saturday at Drake Stadium, and everything
is finally coming together for the Bruins.
On one side, there are the athletes who have already made their
mark on the national picture. John Godina leads the nation in the
shotput and the discus, while Greg Johnson leads the nation in the
javelin.
UCLA throwing coach Art Venegas is pleased with how his throwers
have done so far.
"There’s no guarantee about how they’re going to finish,"
Venegas said. "But I’d rather have it like that than not have it at
all. It’s like when our basketball team was ranked No.1 Â you
either do or you don’t. It’s a hell of a lot better than being
ranked 31st. I’ll take my chances with my kids doing well and
holding it all together."
Then there are the athletes who should begin to make their mark
starting tomorrow. Ato Bolden is slated to compete in the 100- and
200-meters, while Ibrahim Hassan is scheduled for the 200 and 400.
Both athletes come into the meet with a wealth of international
experience.
"It’s the first time we’re going to see Ato Bolden in his
specialty  the 100, the 200 and the short relay, which ran so
well last week in Arizona," UCLA head coach Bob Larsen said.
"Hassan is going to be running the 400, and he’s a very talented
young man, new to our program also."
* * *
For seniors Godina and Johnson, tomorrow will mark the last home
meet of their college careers, and both want to hit solid marks in
their last competition at Drake Stadium.
"It’s looking good," said Godina, who has thrown 67-3 in the
shot and a school record 209-4 in the disc. "It’s looking like the
potential’s there in the shot. My technique’s crappy, but that’s
what’s exciting  I can maybe hit 68 even though my form isn’t
so good right now."
After winning the NCAA Indoor Championships in the shot, Godina
has had to put that event aside to focus on the discus. This
weekend, he should bring them both together, although the
conditions at Drake are not conducive for a record throw in the
discus. Still, Godina is poised to throw the discus over 200 feet,
which he has never done at Drake Stadium.
Johnson currently holds the second-best mark in UCLA history in
the javelin, after he had a break through meet last weekend at the
Sun Angel Invitational. The senior had one of his strongest series
even though he hurt his ankle on his second attempt.
"My first throw was one inch under my PR, and that kind of
pissed me off," said Johnson, who threw 247-9. "On my second throw
I tried to kill it but twisted my ankle and fell on the ground. I
talked to my coach and hit a PR in the fifth and PRed again in the
sixth. I’m ready to this weekend. I’m going to go out and have some
fun and hit a good mark."
The events begin at 11:30 a.m. Admission is free.