Wednesday, 4/23/97 Injuries, youthful sprinters pose
complications for UCLA Despite setbacks, Coach John Smith foresees
‘building year’ for traditionally strong Bruin squad
By Emmanuelle Ejercito Daily Bruin Staff The Wooden Center is
not the only thing undergoing renovation on the UCLA campus. The
damage inflicted by the graduation of key runners on the UCLA men’s
sprints team was compounded by injuries to its runners this season,
leaving sprints coach John Smith with the job of reassembling what
has traditionally been the strong point for the Bruins’ track and
field squad. Gone are sprinters Ato Boldon, who captured the NCAA
title in the 100 last year, and Gentry Bradley, who finished second
in the 200 at the outdoor nationals. Moreover, one of the top
returnees for the team, Ibrahim Hassan, has been missing in action
since suffering a groin pull in mid-March. Hassan is currently in
therapy and is listed as day-to-day, but even if Hassan were to
return soon, the loss of valuable training time would keep him from
running at the same level as last season, when he could run the 200
in 20.59 and the 400 in 45.13. "Hassan’s doing some running," Smith
said. "He’s lost fitness so we have to play it by ear what we are
going to do." A knee injury during football season has also
sidelined Akil Davis. Davis, who ran the first leg of the 400 relay
team that finished second in the 1996 NCAA Championships, is
recuperating from surgery on a dislocated right knee. That leaves
the Bruins with a youthful pool of sprinters, the oldest being
junior Jim McElroy. "I have a very young team," Smith said. "This
year is a building year for our sprint crew; I have some players
that are in place right now, I’m just waiting for the team to grow
up. I can’t force it, I can’t push it any further than it can go so
it kind of (depends on) patience on my part more than anything.
"I’m kind of excited because it is challenging and I enjoy watching
everybody grow up." Smith will have McElroy as well as true
freshman Damien Allen as a foundation. McElroy recorded two
personal bests last weekend at Mt. SAC, with a wind-aided 10.49 in
the 100 and a 20.95 in the 200. Allen, who has been out for two
weeks with a pulled groin, has run a 10.67 in the 100 already this
season. Both runners are currently participating in spring football
practice, but should be able to devote more time to track at the
end of this week when spring ball is over. "Allen’s a talent, but
he has a challenger now in Jim McElroy," Smith said. "It’s kind of
a nice rivalry between a wide receiver (McElroy) and a defensive
back (Allen)." Allen and McElroy also play key roles on the 400 and
1600-meter relay teams. Both relay teams are currently ranked third
in the conference and have yet to make the provisional qualifying
mark for the NCAA. However, Coach Smith is not worried. "Usually we
don’t run good relays at this point," Smith said. "What happens is
during the Pac-10 championships – that’s when we get tough." True
freshman Michael Granville has also shown promise this season.
Granville ranks second in the Pac-10 in the 400-meter with a best
time of 46.59. * * * The Pac-10 Conference acknowledged Mebrahtom
Keflezighi’s efforts last weekend at Mt. SAC by naming the Bruin
junior the Pac-10 Track Athlete of the Week. Keflezighi’s 13:33.97
in the 5,000 was not just a school record, but the time also
catapulted him to the top of the nation in the event. Keflezighi is
the national leader in the 10,000 as well with a best time of
28:26.55.