Friday, April 10, 1998
UCLA hopes to continue streak after successful meet in Texas
TRACK: Performances from Hauser, Tift give Bruins momentum
By Donald Morrison
Daily Bruin Contributor
After a strong performance at the 71st annual Texas Relays last
weekend in Austin, Texas, the men’s track and field team will try
to extend its dual meet winning streak to 53 against the University
of Houston and Cal State Northridge Saturday at Drake Stadium.
The eighth-ranked Bruins hope that their success at the Texas
Relays will carry over into the tri-meet.
"In Texas we had some good marks," UCLA head coach Bob Larsen
said. "It was a good experience for the guys."
Bruin Mark Hauser captured first place last weekend in the
invitational mile. Hauser completed his victorious run in 4
minutes, 3.93 seconds.
Wade Tift qualified for June’s NCAA Championships with a mark of
61 feet, 10 1/4 inches in the shot put. Tift’s mark earned him
second place.
Luke Sullivan continues to improve his marks in throwing events.
In Texas, Sullivan placed fifth in the hammer throw with a mark of
204-2. The throw earned him not only a personal best but the eighth
best mark in school history.
The 400 meter relays team put in a very strong showing, placing
third with a time of 39.80 seconds. The team, consisting of Jacob
Glickman, Bryan Harrison, Damian Allen and Jim McElroy, currently
leads the Pac-10 Conference.
The four sprinters will all compete Saturday as well as Tift and
Sullivan.
Also competing will be Jess Strutzel. Strutzel will run in the
1,500 meters after having a great 1,500 meter race two weeks ago at
the Stanford Invitational.
Strutzel finished second at the meet and finished in a personal
best time of 3:48.63.
Hauser will not compete Saturday and neither will fellow
distance runner Mebrahtom Keflezighi. Both will train through the
meet after having phenomenal races at the Stanford
Invitational.
Keflezighi shattered the 10,000 meter school record after
finishing second. His time of 28:16.79 broke Steve Ortiz’s old
record of 28:21.70 set in 1982.
Hauser competed in the 5,000 meters and was the first collegiate
runner to cross the finish line. His time of 13:55.54 currently
leads the nation.
"It was a courageous race and a huge personal record," Larsen
said about Hauser.
Field events for men in Saturday’s meet will begin at 12:30
p.m., with the long jump and the men’s running events beginning at
1:25 p.m. with the 400 meter relay.
"(Houston) always has good people in several events," Larsen
said. "We’re generally a little bit stronger overall as a team.
What’s nice about a tri-meet is that all the events are covered
pretty well. Each team contributes."