Monday, September 22, 1997 Bruin runners aim for NCAA
Championships MENS: Team hopes return of five top starters will let
them be competitive
By Donald Morrison
Daily Bruin Contributor
The men’s cross country team is on a mission this year.
Their mission: To become the first UCLA team since 1985 to
qualify for the NCAA Championships.
With five of the top six runners returning from last year’s
squad that finished third in the Pac-10, UCLA is ready to make a
run for the NCAA Championships.
"This is another year where it looks like we got a shot at
qualifying for the NCAA Championships, but we’re going to have to
run very well to get it done," said 19-year head coach Bob
Larsen.
In order for the Bruins to qualify for the NCAA Championships
and achieve their goal, they must either place in the top two at
the District VIII meet or finish third and hope that the NCAA
committee grants them an at-large berth.
"In some ways we’ll have to surpass what we’ve done because last
year we finished fourth at the district meet," Larsen said. "Can we
come back and maybe get first, second or third at the district meet
and go to the NCAA Championships? We hope so. That’s one our
goals."
Since five of the top runners from last season return to the
hills of Westwood, experience will play a key factor in the Bruins’
season.
"Just having been in quite a few big races, they have confidence
in each other," Larsen said. "Each year guys get better at handling
big races."
Two teams that could stop the Bruins from realizing their goal
are conference rivals Stanford and Oregon. Stanford is the
defending national and conference champion and is the heavy
favorite to win another NCAA crown. Oregon finished second at the
Pac-10 and District VIII meets last year and returns six of their
top seven runners.
"It’s going to be a very tough and competitive year in the
conference and in the district meet," Larsen said. "Stanford is a
step in front of everybody else. Arizona will be stronger this year
and possibly Washington State. Washington State may have enough
talent this year to contend for that second or third spot in the
conference."
UCLA’s talented core returns three-time All-American and
defending Pac-10 champion Mebrahtom Keflezighi. Keflezighi, a
senior, is coming off of an outstanding track season in which he
won three NCAA titles and set the school record in the 5,000 meters
with a time of 13:33.97.
He won the NCAA indoor 5,000m title in March and, in June,
Keflezighi managed to win what is arguably the toughest double in
track and field when he captured the 5,000m and 10,000m titles.
For the past three years, Keflezighi has placed in the top 15 at
the NCAA championships, qualifying as an individual. In 1996, he
placed 10th and hopes to improve his showing this year.
"I haven’t done too well at the cross country championships,"
Keflezighi said. "I finished ninth my sophomore year at the NCAAs,
and my goal last year was to finish in the top three. Hopefully
this year I will be in the top three, and I hope I can win it."
Running behind Keflezighi and battling for the No. 2 slot will
be seniors Mark Hauser and Devin Elizondo.
Hauser transferred from Wisconsin last year and his consistent
performances were a key factor for UCLA last year. He turned in
solid performances at the Pac-10 and District VIII meets, placing
19th and 26th respectively.
Elizondo, who suffered a stress fracture midway through last
track season, will have a chance to improve on his 18th-place
finishes at the previous two Pac-10 championship meets.
"He’s had good summer workouts and I think he’s going to be
stronger in cross country than he has been in the past," Larsen
said. "I’m pleased that he’s ready to go."
Sophomore Daniel Brecht and senior Matt Olin will likely be the
No. 4 and No. 5 runners for the Bruins.
Brecht ran a personal best time of 14:46.79 in the 5,000m in
track last spring and placed as high as eighth, that finish coming
at the Aztec Invitational. He also finished 31st at the Pac-10 meet
and 51st at the District VIII meet.
Olin placed 52nd at the District VIII meet last year. He showed
much promise during the spring’s track season running personal best
times of 9:14.34 and 14:59.20 in the 3,000m steeplechase and
5,000m, respectively. And Larsen feels that Olin is ready to
improve on his past performances.
"Olin is in the best shape he’s ever been in this time of the
year," Larsen said.
Brandon Del Campo and Kevin Bowes are also looking to make an
impact on the team. Del Campo placed 36th at the Pac-10 meet last
year and Bowes competed at the District VIII meet.
Will Bernaldo and Mason Moore, transfers from Cal State
Northridge and UC Davis are also looking to contribute to the team
as are freshmen Ryan Deane, Andrew Wulf and Paul Muite.
UCLA will participate in some strong races this year and Larsen
feels that the fast starts and competitiveness of the meets will
better prepare them for their most important races –the Pac-10 and
District VIII.
The Stanford Invitational is a large and difficult race as is
the NCAA Championship Preview Meet, which will be held in
Greenville, South Carolina, the site of the Championships at the
end of the season. Last year, the Bruins placed 11th as a team at
the NCAA Championship Preview meet and are hoping they can find the
same success in South Carolina.
"The focus right now is to qualify as a team to the NCAA
championships," Keflezighi said. "It would be wonderful to qualify
as a team to nationals. I think it’s everyone’s goal right
now."