The temptation to enter Candice Baucham in both the long jump
and triple jump at the NCAAs is getting stronger each day for UCLA
jumps coach Robert Johnson. Baucham, a three-time All-American in
the triple jump, has developed into a national-caliber long jumper
as well this season. She opened her season in the long jump at 20
feet, 8.5 inches last month in Tempe, Ariz. Then she shattered her
personal best on Saturday at USC, unleashing a wind-aided jump of
21 feet, 5.25 inches. It’s the fourth-best collegiate mark in
the nation this year in the event, and puts Baucham, the only
athlete in the top 10 in both the long jump and triple jump, in
position to challenge for the national title in both. “I told
her, “˜you’re going to have to stop jumping so far
because you’re making it tough on me,'” Johnson
said. “Her training the last six to eight weeks has been
unbelievable. I ask her to jump to the moon, and she does
it.” Baucham has been hesitant to double in the past because
the demands of competing in the prelims and finals of both events
at the NCAAs are so great. Even now, after her command performance
in the long jump at USC and a season-opening triple jump of 44
feet, 6 inches, Baucham is unsure whether it’s a good idea.
“I’m still a little iffy,” she said.
“I’m really excited about the long jump. I had goals of
21 feet before, but it was never there. My speed is really coming
along, and my long jump is taking off. “I’m trying to
see how the triple jump is coming along and then we’ll
see.” Regardless of whether Baucham attempts the double at
the NCAAs, she will almost certainly compete in both events at the
Pac-10 Championships next weekend. Then Baucham, the defending
conference champion in the triple jump, will have a decision to
make. “With her marks, she’s jumped far enough that we
can train really hard going into Regionals and then hopefully back
off again for Nationals,” Johnson said. “She’s in
very good position.”
MAKING PROGRESS: It hasn’t been an easy season for
UCLA’s Renee Williams, but the redshirt freshman is starting
to show glimpses of the potential she demonstrated in the long jump
during a breakout indoor campaign last year. Williams, who suffered
a season-ending knee injury in March of 2004, has struggled since
making her return, but jumped a season-best 19 feet, 8.25 inches on
Saturday to take second place at the USC meet. The jump is well shy
of her lifetime best of 21 feet, 1.5 inches, but Johnson believes
the performance shows Williams is making progress. “She had a
stretch (at USC) that was Renee of old-like,” Johnson said.
“Each meet, she’s getting better. By the time we get to
NCAAs she’ll be right where she needs to be.”
INJURY UPDATE: UCLA doctors are cautiously optimistic that pole
vaulter Chelsea Johnson’s injured left knee will not keep her
from competing this weekend in Modesto. Johnson, who had surgery to
repair a torn meniscus in the knee in September and tweaked it
again on Saturday in warm-ups, practiced on a limited basis the
past two days. If the pain does not fully subside and she is unable
to compete this weekend, doctors will re-evaluate her status early
next week. Johnson, the defending NCAA champion in the pole vault,
still managed to clear a season-best 14 feet, 1.25 inches on
Saturday to take first place in the event.
ODDS AND ENDS: The UCLA women moved into a tie with Florida for
the No. 2 position in the latest Trackwire 25 Poll, the highest the
Bruins have been ranked this season. … UCLA’s Jessica Cosby
was named Pac-10 Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after her
performance in the shot put on Saturday.