The UCLA men and women’s cross country teams returned
victorious from the Triton Cross Country Invitational, ran this
past Saturday in La Jolla.
Both teams took first in the invitational, competing against 29
other schools and a total of 518 runners.
The women took first place despite sitting out their top four
runners from the meet. Sophomores Alejandra Barrientos, Lori Mann,
Carmen Winant and freshman Jenna Timinsky spent the weekend
training for the upcoming NCAA Preview Meet in Indiana on Oct.
19.
Junior Valerie Flores stepped up for the women’s team this
weekend, placing 11th to lead them to their 57-point victory.
Freshmen Sarah West and Allison Hall finished 13th and 14th,
respectively, with junior Melissa McBain following in the 19th
spot.
“Flores and McBain went out strong early in the
race,” Peterson said. “Actually they went out a little
too fast but it worked out in the end. Overall I was
pleased.”
With the postseason nearing, Peterson is looking for those last
few runners to fill the seven available spots.
Flores surprised everyone with her team-leading finish. Just
coming off the disabled list, this was her first meet of the
year.
“I’m finally back in there,” Flores said.
“I’m still not at my full potential, but I’m
getting there.”
She is looking forward to continue her training with the team
for the Pac-10 championships on Nov. 2.
“It was a good race for me,” Flores said. “Not
great, but I’m on the rise.”
The UCLA women’s team is currently ranked No. 18 in the
country, but Peterson feels there is a misrepresentation in the
poll and has even higher hopes for the team’s future.
The Bruins finished No. 21 at last year’s NCAA
Championship, and Peterson feels this year that the women can make
it into the top 15, perhaps even the top 12, depending on how well
they run.
This Saturday’s meet will be a preview of what is to
come.
“We are going to travel 10 runners. Seven will be running
in the seated race, three in an alternate race on a separate
track.” Peterson said about the preview meet.
As for who will run which race, that is still undecided. What is
certain is that sophomore Lena Nilsson will make her anticipated
debut, one week earlier than Peterson had planned.
Nilsson won the 800-meter and 1500-meter runs at the Swedish
National Championships, the 1500m at the NCAA finals in June, and
both the 800m and 1500m at last year’s Pac-10 finals. She was
also named the conference Women’s Track and Field Athlete of
the Year.
The men’s team came back from San Diego with lifted
spirits and more confidence for their future. Sophomore Ben Aragon
placed second overall on the 8000m course. He was the highest
placing collegian at the meet.
He feels the team “went in a lot more confident. We seem
like more of a team than before.”
It is for this very reason Peterson chose not to send any of the
men’s runners to the Indiana meet this weekend. After
Stanford he feels “it is more important to keep the men
together. I don’t want to split the team up.”
On the strength of team leaders like Aragon and the injured Jon
Rankin, Peterson feels the rest of the men’s team will
benefit more from keeping all its members “in the
mix.”
Rankin, who suffers from minor tendinitis in his right calf, is
“feeling better and on the mend,” according to
Peterson, yet still is not scheduled to run in any upcoming
meets.
Sophomore Erik Emilsson came in 12th for the Bruins Saturday;
senior Phil Young and sophomore Puneet Mahan placed 15th and 20th
respectively.
Both the men’s and the women’s team will compete in
the Cal State Fullerton Invitational Oct. 25.