Wednesday, June 5, 1996
Boldon, several others headed for the Atlanta games this
summerBy Emmanuelle Ejercito
Daily Bruin Staff
Atlanta is the next destination for several athletes on the UCLA
men’s track team.
Running the two fastest times in the 100 meter this year, senior
Ato Boldon established himself as a top contender to stand atop the
podium and hear the Trinidad national anthem play in Olympic
Stadium.
But although he raised more than a few eyebrows at NCAAs, Boldon
still does not consider himself a favorite for the gold.
"The person going into Atlanta in the best shape will be the
favorite," Boldon said. "There is a lot of time between now and
July 26."
Boldon will run in the 200 as well, and though he did not defend
his NCAA title in the 200 at this year’s meet, he did have the
fastest collegiate time at 20.0.
"I’m going to compete in the 200," Boldon said. "I really don’t
want (current world champion) Michael Johnson to just walk away
with the medal. Everybody is talking about who can beat Michael;
there are only a select few and I want to be one of those few."
But Boldon will not be the only Bruin in Atlanta.
Mike Terry will represent Antigua-Barbuda in the 800 meter. At
the Pacific 10 Championships, Terry came from behind in the last
straight-away to win his first conference title in the 800.
Four athletes will attempt to win a spot on Team USA during the
Olympic Trials.
In the shot put, Mark Parlin and Jonathan Ogden hope to join
former Bruin John Godina. Scott Slover will compete in the pole
vault.
Gentry Bradley, who set a personal record of 20.48 in the 200 to
take second in the NCAA, will also go to the trials. Bradley will
make a try for the team in the 200, and may attempt to qualify for
the 100.
Other Olympic dreams are a little more cloudy.
Sophomore Ibrahim Hassan was set to compete for Ghana this
summer in the 200 and 400. However, on May 18 during the 200
qualifying heat at the Pac-10s, Hassan suffered a left hamstring
injury. It was projected to put him out of commission for four to
six weeks. Three weeks have passed and Hassan still has to go
through rehabilitation, while the Olympics are less than two months
away.
* * *
In the July issue of College Sport Magazine, Ogden was named the
male collegiate athlete of the year.
The 6-8 offensive lineman and the fourth pick in the NFL draft
earned the accolade for his efforts on the football and track
fields.
Although Ogden was bothered by an injured wrist and did not
throw well enough to qualify for the finals at the NCAA Outdoor
meet, he is the reigning national indoor shot put champion.
* * *
Although the Bruins finished third at the NCAAs in the final
dual-meet ranking, UCLA was named No. 1.
The Bruins finished the dual-meet season with a perfect 10-0
record that included its 18th-straight win over USC.
"Most people," UCLA head coach Bob Larsen said, "would give a
lot to have the kind of season we had."
SUSIE CHU/Daily Bruin
Ato Boldon will represent Trinidad at the Olympics in both the
100 and 200 meters.PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin
Senior shot putter Jonathon Ogden was named the collegiate male
athlete of the year by College Sport Magazine…DAILY BRUIN file
photo
…for his performances on the track and the football field,
where he was the fourth pick overall in the NFL draft.