In the first outdoor meet of the season, the women’s track and field team wanted to reinstate the dominance of the program.
Over the weekend the team did just that and took home the Cal/Nevada Championship with ease on its home track, Drake Stadium.
“It was important (to win) because we have been talking about building back our reputation of winning,” coach Jeanette Bolden said. “We haven’t done that as a group lately.”
The Bruins won the title for the first time since 2006 with 164.50 points. San Diego State came in a distant second with 84 points, slightly edging out Cal State Northridge, which had 81 points.
UCLA was led by several event wins and strong performances, none bigger than Katy Viuf in the pole vault.
The junior from Tulsa, Okla., won the event on Saturday with a new personal best of 14 feet, 1.25 inches.
“I’ve had a couple of good weeks of practice recently, so I’ve been ready for this,” said Viuf, who won the Women’s Field Athlete of the Meet. “It was actually a double (personal record).”
Viuf bettered her previous outdoor record of 13-1.75 and moved to No. 4 on UCLA’s all-time list. The mark is also the second best in the world this year, and Viuf is this season’s national and collegiate leader.
“I think she was disappointed by not making NCAAs, and I think her desire is starting to spill into outdoors,” Bolden said.
Redshirt senior Megan Jamerson joined Viuf on the podium with her third-place finish at 13-1.50.
Also on Friday, junior Danielle Watson won the long jump with a leap of 20-7. The distance puts her at No. 2 in the collegiate ranks.
Sunday was more of the same from the Bruins as they continued to control the competition.
Redshirt freshman Ke’Nyia Richardson started the day with a big win in the triple jump.
“Even though it’s not as good of a distance as I want, I’m happy I still won,” Richardson said. “I have to work on bringing all my phases together.”
Richardson picked up a regional qualifier with her jump of 41-00.25.
Three athletes also earned regional marks. In the 800 meters, junior Krishna Curry posted the No. 2 time in the NCAA with 2:06.68.
Sophomore Lindsay Rowe won the 100-meter hurdles by out-leaning her opponent. Rowe won by .01 seconds in a time of 13.67 to qualify for regionals.
Freshman Yasmin Woodruff placed second in the 200m with a lifetime best of 23.82 for a regional qualifier.
Both relay teams performed well and qualified. The 4x100m team of senior Rhonda Watkins, Woodruff, senior Nicole Leach and senior Krystin Lacy ran 45.46 to earn second. The 4x400m team of sophomore Ashlea McLaughlin, Lacy, freshman Camilla Dencer and Leach ran 3:35.89, the best time in the NCAA.
“I’m really happy about the 4x400m, and they really capped off the meet,” Bolden said. “That was a great finish.”
The Bruins will use the upcoming week to keep the momentum running high. UCLA will return to Drake Stadium next week for the UCLA Invitational, one of only three meets at home this season.