While the UCLA track and field team saw strong performances across the board at its first home meet of the season, two sections of the team particularly stole the show: the throwers and distance runners.
Overall, the Bruins won nine events at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival and Jim Bush Legends Invitational this past weekend. Combined, the throws and distance teams accounted for eight of UCLA’s nine victories, and 19 of its 27 top-three finishes.
This level of success is expected from the throws team by now, which has been the strongest weapon in UCLA’s arsenal this year. At least four throwers finished in the top three at every meet during the indoor regular season, and of the five Bruins that qualified for indoor nationals, four were throwers.
A major part of the group’s success has been redshirt junior Ashlie Blake, a four-year veteran who was the Bruins’ only First-Team All American during the indoor season. Blake threw 17.73 meters to win the women’s shot put on Saturday.
Her throw not only placed her fifth all-time in school history, but also put her atop the NCAA national rankings.
“It’s a really good experience knowing that my hard work is finally starting to pay off,” Blake said. “(Throws coach John Frazier) keeps pushing me, knowing that I’m not at my best yet.”
Freshman Alyssa Wilson finished right behind Blake in the shot put, taking second overall. The pair finished 1-2 again in the discus, but switched places, with Wilson taking home the win.
Wilson also competed in the hammer throw, winning again and beating the next competitor by more than three meters. In the men’s hammer throw, junior Justin Stafford set a new personal best and moved to fifth all time in school history, taking second overall.
The Bruins also fielded competitors in the men and women’s javelin throws, winning on both sides.
“The throws team as a whole is a lot further ahead at this time this year than we were last year,” Blake said. “By the time Pac-12 championships rolls around, we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
While the throwers dominated in the field, the distance runners carried the Bruins on the track, tallying three victories and 10 top-three finishes.
Up to this point, the distance squad has had a quieter year in comparison to the throws team. Aside from the men’s distance medley relay team taking first at the MPSF Indoor Championships, the Bruins did not win any distance events during the indoor season.
However, the distance runners started to make some noise Friday and Saturday.
Standout performances included junior Robert Brandt running 29:02.14 to win the men’s 10K, freshman Christina Rice running her first ever outdoor collegiate track race and winning the women’s 10K, and sophomore Riley Kelly breaking the 1:50 barrier in the 800 meter to take second overall.
“It was a really big milestone for me,” Kelly said. “I’ve been working toward it for a while now.”
Kelly’s time places him 32nd in the nation, one of 10 UCLA distance athletes who entered into the NCAA top 95 over the weekend.
“I think everyone did fantastically,” Kelly said. “We’re all very fit at the moment. There’s a lot of excitement moving forward.”
While the distance team appears to be on the upswing, the sprinters have yet to see much of a breakthrough.
After losing star sprinter Rai Benjamin this past offseason, only one UCLA sprinter finished in the top three at any meet during the indoor season. The sprint squad had the fewest top-three finishes among the team this weekend, with two by senior Jelvon Butler.
Despite these disparities in success, head coach Avery Anderson said he wants athletes focused less on the team’s separate groups, and more on the team as a whole.
“We try our best to keep a cohesive team bond,” Anderson said. “Just understanding that we’re not individual groups, we’re not individual people, but we’re a cohesive unit that’s a team.”
As a team, UCLA’s nine total victories were the most since last year’s first home meet.
“I think it’s just the excitement of finally running in front of the home crowd,” Kelly said of the team’s success at Drake Stadium. “Having that home crowd advantage is massive.”
The Bruins will have a chance to compete at home again Thursday and Friday, in the Jim Click Multi’s.