Mixed results for men’s track
Bruins record three
life-time bests, but
falls short on relays
By Tim Costner
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
In one of the biggest meets of the season, the UCLA men’s track
and field team had a chance to make its mark in the NCAA track
world.
The Bruins, however, only revealed half of their potential at
last weekend’s Penn Relays in Philadelphia, dominating the field
events but suffering difficulties and setbacks in the running
events.
UCLA shotputter John Godina led the field with a mark of 67 feet
9 inches, while fellow Bruin Mark Parlin finished second with a
throw of 61-4 1/2. Both marks were lifetime bests. UCLA’s Jonathan
Ogden finished fifth in the competition with a throw of 58-2.
"That was a great job for those kids," said UCLA throwing coach
Art Venegas. "Parlin will now go to the nationals very confidently
with that mark."
In the javelin, UCLA’s Greg Johnson finished third in the
invitational competition with a throw of 234-1, while teammate Josh
Johnson (no relation to Greg Johnson) had a big break-through in
the collegiate portion with a lifetime best of 229-5.
Josh Johnson’s mark was nearly a 17-foot improvement on his
former mark, giving him a provisional qualification for the NCAA
Championships in June.
In the sprints, UCLA’s Ato Boldon provided a glimpse of the
Bruins’ potential by running the 200-meter leg of the sprint medley
in 19.5 seconds. The UCLA relay team failed to finish among the
top, however.
The Bruins had even greater difficulty in the 4x100m relay,
failing to make the final heat due to problems in the hand-off
between the third and the anchor legs.
In the distance events, Mebrahtom Keflezighi battled illness
through the 10,000m, finishing the race in 30:40 — about 50
seconds shy of a provisional NCAA qualification.
Rounding out the field of UCLA athletes, high jumper Rich
Pitchford finished fourth in the collegiate competition with a jump
of 6-10 3/4, Greg Hodel finished third in the collegiate hammer
with a throw of 190 and Avery Anderson ran the 110m hurdles in
14.20 — just missing the finals.
"We’ll regroup in the running events for the ‘SC meet," Venegas
said. "The travel was tough and sometimes you just have a little
bit of bad luck."
UCLA’s meet against USC is this Saturday at USC, and will be the
Bruins’ last dual meet of the season.