Monday, May 4, 1998
Trojans doomed to repeat history of defeat to Bruins
W.TRACK: UCLA takes sixth consecutive victory over USC in dual
meet
By Alvin Cadman
Daily Bruin Contributor
As an infestation of cardinal and gold roamed throughout Drake
Stadium on Saturday, the blue sky emerging through the clouds
foretold the victor of the annual USC-UCLA track meet. Bruin blue
and gold shone through overall, capturing another resounding
victory over the University of Second Choice.
UCLA, ranked second nationally, defeated No. 5 USC by a
commanding team score of 104-50 and marked the 12th win for the
Lady Bruins over the Women of Troy in 15 meetings. UCLA has taken
home the title from this meet the past six years in a row; the
Bruins’ last defeat, in 1992, was also their last dual-meet
loss.
Head coach Jeanette Bolden racked up her 45th consecutive
dual-meet victory on Saturday afternoon. The crowd of 2,713
witnessed the Bruins’ 10th victory this season, sustaining their so
far perfect record.
Bruin dominance over their crosstown rivals was asserted early
and often, since throwing events began first. UCLA’s most versatile
thrower, senior Rachelle Noble, won the women’s 20-pound weight
throw with a mark of 64-3. She would go on to garner many honors
throughout the day, taking second in the hammer, third in javelin
and discus and fourth in shot put.
Not to be outdone, teammate Seilala Sua also turned in a fine
performance. Sua took second in the discus and 20-pound weight
throw and third in the hammer and shot put.
Throwers weren’t the only Bruins who unleashed their Bruin pride
on the hapless Trojans, however. UCLA jumped all over Southern Cal
– literally.
Deana Simmons continued to dominate in her field, turning in a
jump of 42-10 to win the women’s triple jump. Teammates Kiesha
Porter and Kelly O’Connor finished third and fourth, respectively.
In the long jump, Simmons came through again with a Trojan-slaying
effort to place third, an inch and a half behind fellow Bruin
jumper Michelle Perry. Even the pole vault standings were not
without a Bruin at the top: Jocelyn Chase beat out her competitors
with a leap of 11-0.
Freshman Shakedia Jones did not wait long to make her imprint in
the record books on Saturday afternoon. She was part of the winning
4 x 100 meter relay team that included Perry, Andrea Anderson and
Joanna Hayes. Their winning time of 43.49 seconds was 34 hundredths
faster than the previous meet record, set by UCLA in 1990.
Jones went on to win the 100-meter sprints over USC’s Torri
Edwards, who holds the nation’s top time in the event, in a time of
11.11 seconds. This was a meet record and third best in UCLA
history behind Florence Griffith and Gail Devers. Jones also
established the top collegiate mark in the 200 meters, as she
cruised to victory in a time of 22.84 seconds.
"I can’t believe I went that fast," said Jones on her phenomenal
performances in the 100 and 200 meters. "Coming into the UCLA-USC
meet, I really did not know what to expect. But the team and all
the other girls started to get hyped up, and it got contagious. My
goal was to get an automatic qualifying time, and I was fortunate
to do that. This is a great start for us as we head into the
Pac-10s."
After making her contribution to the winning 4×100 relay team,
Hayes did not stop there. She would go on to capture the women’s
400-meter hurdles in a time of 57.09 seconds.
Shortly after, Hayes established a meet record in the 100-meter
hurdles with a time of 12.93 seconds, previously owned by Gail
Devers. Hayes now sits second all time in UCLA history behind the
Olympian. Fellow hurdler Perry took third and fifth in these
events, respectively.
"I had been waiting to break 13 (seconds) for a long time, and
it finally came in one of my first races this season," said Hayes
of her meet record in the 100-meter hurdles.
"I’m excited about the time and look to improve upon that in the
future. I plan on winning the Pac-10s, and I think I can even win
nationals if I can keep my head straight and work hard. If we keep
our minds and hearts focused, we can win the (NCAA)
championship."
Anderson, watching meet records fall by the wayside at the feet
of her teammates, broke some of her own when she won the 400 meters
in a time of 51.48, 37 hundredths of a second under the old mark
set by Trojan Michelle Taylor in 1989. Anderson’s time was also
second in UCLA history behind Florence Griffith.
All in all, it was a satisfying day at the track – if you were a
UCLA Bruin, that is. The UCLA women’s track team has kept yet
another USC losing streak alive.