Thursday, 5/22/97 Sports Briefs CYCLING:
Cyclists prepare to enter national championships This weekend
the UCLA cycling team will venture into Durango, Colo. to compete
in the national championships. Last year’s national champion, Keith
Henderson, will have strong competition from teammates John Nobil
and Lane Packwood, who both placed above him in the state rankings.
"Henderson has been racing extremely well but John Nobil is racing
as strong as he ever has," Martin Tanner said. If the any of the
UCLA racers win at Durango, it will be the first time that UCLA has
had repeating national champions in cycling. Since Durango is at an
extremely high elevation, UCLA racers will have a hard time getting
their air. As a result, the locals will possess a huge advantage.
"Last year I won in California and was used to the weather, but in
Colorado I will have to adjust to the different environment," Keith
Henderson said. "Nobil and Packwood should vie for the championship
since they both are full of energy and young. This could be Nobil’s
race." With a tremendous 1-2-3 punch, UCLA is almost a lock for
winning at the championships. "This year the team is stacked with
great riders," Judy Hue said. "We should get one rider to place in
the top three." Also traveling to Durango will be UCLA women’s
cyclist Virginia Parks, who has continuously improved this year and
appears to be reaching her peak. In the state championships, Parks
placed high enough to earn a spot in Colorado. Last year, Parks
placed in the top 10 at the championships and this year she is
looking to improve on her placing, hoping to capture UCLA’s first
women’s cycling title. Rugby team looks to crush national
competition The UCLA women’s rugby team has performed like a
wrecking ball this year, destroying any team in its way. This
weekend the ball will roll into Minneapolis to try and continue the
destruction at nationals. This will be UCLA’s first year in
nationals, after losing in previous years to Carson in regionals.
The Bruins earned a berth in nationals with an undefeated record in
the league and drubbings of teams in their league, such as a 55-6
victory in their last league game. Led by coach Tam Breckenridge
and several players from the World Cup team, UCLA is positioned to
pull off some upsets in Minneapolis. "We have some excellent
rookies and an excellent veteran core," Jill Fenske said, "so
winning the championship this weekend can be done." Without
recruiting or funding from the school, the rugby team is looking to
prove to the nation that UCLA can and will be a wrecking ball for
years to come. Notes compiled by Rocky Salmon, Daily Bruin
Contributor