Thursday, March 19, 1998
Running toward tests, on and off the field
TRACK: With finals week on horizon, teams ready for tough
outdoor season
By Alvin Cadman
Daily Bruin Contributor
With finals week looming in the near future and students hastily
studying for exams before the much-needed spring break, the UCLA
women’s track and field team will host a quadrangular meet at Drake
Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After confronting challenging competition for several members at
the 1998 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis
last weekend, the Bruin women look forward to a successful outdoor
season and an opportunity to challenge Texas and Louisiana State
University for the NCAA outdoor crown.
This weekend, the Bruins host the second of four home meets on
the outdoor schedule and get their first taste of Pac-10
competition this year. The California Golden Bears, along with the
Fighting Falcons of Air Force and the Anteaters of UC Irvine, will
make their way to Drake Stadium in hopes of breaking Coach Jeanette
Bolden’s unbeaten four-year dual meet mark of 35-0. This record has
earned the UCLA women the honor of being the top dual meet team in
the nation three years in a row.
Deana Simmons will try to repeat similar success that she had
last year against Berkeley. The sophomore from Illinois jumped
19-10 1/4 last year against the Golden Bears, and earned herself a
spot at No. 10 on UCLA’s all-time women’s best in the long jump.
Simmons will also compete in the women’s triple jump on
Saturday.
The throwing corps of seniors Nada Kawar and Rachelle Noble, and
sophomore Seilala Sua, hope to do well after good showings at the
1998 NCAA Indoors. Kawar and Sua threw well in the women’s shot put
at the most important meet of the early track season, and hope to
improve upon the work ethic that earned them All-American status
last year. Noble’s performance in the 20-pound weight throw shows
her ability to compete at the highest level in multiple events. Her
success has earned her the consideration of being UCLA’s most
versatile thrower.
With Andrea Anderson leading the sprinters in the 200 and 400
meters, and Joanna Hayes leading the hurdle crew in the 100 and 400
meter hurdles, the Bruin women hope to repeat their team success
against their opponents this weekend. UCLA defeated Berkeley and UC
Irvine last season in dual competition 83-61 and 98-32,
respectively.
UCLA hopes to prepare themselves for a tough schedule ahead as
they will have to go to work during the spring break. After their
meet this weekend at Drake Stadium, the Bruin women go on the road
to the prestigious Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto. The
following weekend will feature a familiar nemesis in the 1998 NCAA
Indoor Track and Field team champion Texas Longhorns at the Texas
Relays in Austin, Texas.