Though the UCLA men’s track and field team split in two this weekend to attend separate meets in an effort to maximize its opportunity for NCAA qualifiers, the results did not meet expectations.
“Overall, it was a subpar weekend for both trips,” coach Art Venegas said. “We weren’t really sharp.”
Some Bruin sprinters had to be pulled from competition due to sore muscles. This meant that UCLA could not field a 4×400 meter relay team.
Sprint coach Tony Veney did not want to push the team too hard.
“We had a rough weekend,” Veney said. “We didn’t want to overextend ourselves.”
Junior Boldizsar Kocsor was also pulled because of a sore back. Kocsor is currently ranked in the top 10 in the nation for the weight throw.
The Bruins also missed freshman Quentin Powell, who was hit by another competitor, leaving him unable to finish his race and post a time.
There were some bright spots for the Bruins from the weekend. Sophomore Darius Savage earned not only a third-place finish in the shot put but also a NCAA provisional qualifying mark. His 58-foot-10.75-inch throw was just half an inch short of his lifetime best.
“Darius is picking up on technique right now,” Venegas said. “It was really a fantastic job by him.”
Savage was not the only thrower to do well at the meet. Redshirt freshman Bo Taylor threw a lifetime best of 56-11.5 in the weight throw.
The squad at the Tyson Invitational was led by the performance of redshirt junior Dustin DeLeo in the pole vault. DeLeo was the top finisher in the collegiate competition and vaulted to a lifetime best of 17-1 and a NCAA provisional qualifying mark.
Freshman Jonathan Clark also performed well for the Bruins, placing second in the triple jump with a season-best jump of 50-6, a quarter inch off the NCAA provisional qualifying mark.
“For him to travel east and take care of business is really great,” Venegas said. “He has a lot of really fun potential.”
This weekend will also shape what the Bruins will do to get ready for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation indoor championships in two weeks.
“There is a lot at stake in two weeks,” said Venegas.
The team will prepare for a big push in the next two weeks, though most of the sprinters will be absent. In an effort to keep them healthy, the coaches have decided most will be held from competing until the outdoor season.
“You will see very few sprinters after this week,” Venegas said. “They are going to rest up and get ready for the outdoor season. We have to back them off for now.”