Heading into the mile relay, it looked like the UCLA men’s track and field team might have a chance at knocking off top-ranked Oregon in the squads’ first dual meet of the season. However, a dropped baton in the last handoff secured five points and the meet for the Ducks.
“It’s a little heartbreaking,” coach Art Venegas said. “They are the No. 1 team in the nation, and we knew it was going to be a tough day, but we were confident and we performed like we were confident.”
Deadlocked at 79-79 with only one event left in the meet, the Bruins showed they could compete and hold their own against Oregon. Although the Ducks went on the win, 84-79, UCLA proved that it is not going to be overlooked this season.
“It says we are coming along at the right time,” sophomore jumper Taylor Hobson said. “It doesn’t do much good if we’re No. 1 a month ago or now; it only matters at the nationals.”
Hobson continued to stand out with his performances in the jumps as he has all season. He jumped a lifetime best 7 feet 1 inch in the high jump, taking the top spot for the Bruins. Hobson also placed second in both the long jump and the triple jump. His 25-2.50 long jump was another lifetime best.
Both Hobson’s high-jump and long-jump marks rank in the top 10 in the NCAA.
“Going into it I felt really good about the long jump,” Hobson said. “In the high jump, everything felt good, but not perfect in warm up, but once the high jump started I just got going. In the triple jump, I think I was just really excited about the other events.”
Oregon’s Hayward Field is known as a great place to compete. The site of the 2008 Olympic track and field trials draws great crowds and fans who are excited no matter who is competing.
“The Oregon fans appreciate track and good performances overall,” Hobson said. “I know they got behind me in my jumps.”
Also putting up strong performances for the Bruins was the 200-meter crew, which swept the top three places. Freshman Karlton Rolle led the way, followed by junior Brandon Smith and freshman Jamal Alston. All three finishes were season bests and regional qualifiers.
Another Bruin sweep came in the discus. Freshman Tom Nagengast finished first, followed by redshirt sophomore Nick Robinson and redshirt freshman Mark Weber.
The Bruins had several others take the top spot, including redshirt sophomore Greg Woepse in the pole vault, sophomore Jonathan Clark in the triple jump and redshirt senior Boldizsar Kocsor in the hammer.
“Boldi did a really good job. He dominated in (the hammer competition),” Venegas said. “That was a nice level of performance, getting back from his back injury. We think that’s behind him now.”
With a USC dual meet in two weeks, this meet will prepare the Bruins for a final push heading into the postseason.
“I thought this was definitely a confidence booster that we needed,” Hobson said. “I feel like with the ‘SC meet we are just going to take off.”