The track and field program improved in the Pac-12 and nationally in 2019, but the Bruins said they’re chasing titles in 2020.

The UCLA men’s track and field team climbed the rankings throughout the outdoor season on the back of strong postseason performances. In the Pac-12 championships, UCLA tied with Oregon with only a few events remaining until Oregon went on to win its 13th consecutive conference championship.

At the NCAA West regionals, UCLA qualified its the highest number of athletes in 10 years, with five of the 20 going on to rack up First Team All-American honors at the NCAA championships.

“The 2019 Bruin squad showed that UCLA track and field is back and will be a force to be reckoned with,” said Avery Anderson, the track and field director.

Rising junior Alyssa Wilson arrived in Westwood during Anderson’s first year heading the program and has gone on to list her name among the Bruins’ best throwers in the UCLA record books. A week after scoring all 10 of the women’s points at the NCAA championships with three top-seven finishes in the shot put, hammer throw and discus, Wilson said she has plans to stand atop the podium in all three events in her final two seasons.

“(A clean sweep) is definitely one of my goals,” Wilson said. “I idolize the girl who did that in previous years – (former Arizona State thrower) Magdalyn Ewen. I just want to be like her.”

Outgoing thrower Dotun Ogundeji was a part of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s No. 1 ranked shot put squad in the country his freshman year and returned that honor to UCLA before graduating Friday.

Ogundeji said the leadership he instilled in rising redshirt junior Nate Esparza and rising sophomore Otito Ogbonnia will help to sustain the shot put unit as one of the upper-echelon event squads in the country.

“(The men’s throwers) will continue to dominate,” Ogundeji said. “We have some dogs that are returning next year that will take over the NCAA in the future. The senior leadership that we have next year will match the leadership that we have always.”

Rising senior distance runner Robert Brandt returned from an injury-ridden track and field season his sophomore year with three First Team All-American titles – two at the NCAA indoor championships in the 3,000- and 5,000-meter runs and one in the 10,000-meter at the NCAA outdoor championships.

Brandt led the pack at one point in all three races and said he will look to sustain those leads and said he will look to capitalize on those leads to win his final championship races in a Bruin uniform.

“For track, my (10,000-meter) title is definitely my goal,” Brandt said. “It’s going to be something I’m looking to all throughout the summer and next year.”

Brandt was the lone contributor to the men’s tally of one point at last year’s NCAA championships. But with the team’s improvement this year, Brandt said the incentive of the possibility of an NCAA title adds more meaning to his races.

“Just talking to (men’s distance coach Devin Elizondo) after (the NCAA championships) and looking to next year, all that it has to bring for myself and everyone on the team is exciting,” Brandt said. “It just adds an extra layer – you’re not just competing for yourself now, but the whole team.”

Brandt said he will be vying for top-five finishes individually and as a team when he runs for the cross country team this fall.

Published by Vinny Lavalsiti

Lavalsiti is currently a reporter on the women's basketball and track & field beats.

Join the Conversation

5 Comments

  1. I know how scholarship limits can make recruiting a tricky jigsaw puzzle……but the program should aim for the type of national success achieved in the 1970s.

    1. 1 yr back I chose to just leave my prior work and I am so delightful at this time…. I started off earning a living via internet, for an organization I discovered on-line, for several hour or so every day, and I get way more than I did on my office job… My pay-check for past 30 days was 9,000 dollars… The most important thing relating to this is the extra spare time I managed to get for my children…and that the single requirement for this gig is basic typing and having access to internet… I am also capable to spend quality time with my close relatives and good friends and take good care of my children and also going on holiday vacation with them really consistently. Don’t skip this opportunity and try to act fast. Try it out, what it is about… salvagingcrackling.byto.de

    2. 1 yr earlier I made the decision to stop my prior work and I am so glad now…. I began doing the job on the web, for business entity I uncovered online, for several hours every day, and I get paid definitely more than I did on my office workplace job… previous calendar month was 9,000 dollars… The best thing relating to this is the additional leisure time I got for my little ones…and that the single requirement for this job is basic typing and having access to broadband… I am also able to put in quality time with my loved ones and good friends and also take care of my children and also going on vacation with them very frequently. Don’t avoid this opportunity and make sure to act fast. Find out, what it is about… stable.xey.net

    3. Internet jobs have become a trend all over the over world now. A newly released research reveals over 78% of the people are being part of internet jobs at home without having difficulty. Everyone likes to hang out with his/her good friends by going any attractive place in the country or any other country. So internet income enables you to do the work at any time you want and enjoy your life. Still determing the best method moreover establishing a right target is our strategy in direction of success. Already the majority of people are earning such a good pay check of $34000 each week by taking advantage of highly recommended and successful methods of generating income on line. You can start to earn from the first day as soon as you check out our web-site. JOIN US >>>>> blizzard.web.pe

    4. Most recent study shows that over 77% individuals are involved into online world jobs. The Online world is prospering on a day-to-day basis so therefore everyone is now having an ocean of earn money on line opportunities using the internet to earn money. Absolutely everyone would like to enjoy more time his/her good friends by traveling any specific amazing place in the world. However choosing the right method moreover setting a proper destination is our milestone in the direction of financial success. Already the largest number of people are getting such a good pay check of $24k in one week by making use of suggested as well as great techniques for generating great income through internet. Get started to receive money from the first day when you finally look at our webpage >>>>> cardinalflop.info-home.de

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *