Monday, November 16, 1998
Hauser qualifies for NCAA; UCLA places 9th in Pac-10
MEET WRAP: Top Bruin runner will compete for nation’s
long-distance running title
By Donald Morrison
Daily Bruin Contributor
UCLA men’s cross country runner Mark Hauser came out Saturday at
the Western Regional qualifying cross country meet in Fresno,
Calif. and accomplished one of his biggest goals of the year.
The senior from San Diego became the second Bruin in as many
years to earn a qualifying berth in the NCAA Championships. Hauser,
running at Woodward Park, finished seventh in the region with a
time of 30 minutes, 46 seconds over the 10,000-meter (6.1 mile)
course.
"It was a good time for (Hauser) on a tough course," UCLA head
coach Bob Larsen said. "He looked nice and strong. He went out with
the leaders for the first mile and then ran easy the rest of way to
qualify."
Hauser came by the first-mile mark in 4:34 but decided to cruise
the rest of the way to assure himself of a qualifying berth to the
NCAA Championships. He’ll now have one week to get ready for the
NCAA Championships held in Lawrence, Kan.
Abdi Abdirahman from Arizona, the 1998 Pac-10 champion, won the
regional race. Hauser managed to stay with him and the rest of the
leaders for close to 1.5 miles.
"It was good that (Hauser) went hard the first mile because the
first mile at the NCAA Championships is usually pretty fast,"
Larsen said.
This will be the fifth straight season that a Bruin will run in
the NCAA Championships. Mebrahtom Keflezighi, last year’s NCAA
Champion, ran in the previous four NCAA Championships.
The course will be a tough, hilly 10,000-meter course. Coach
Larsen also said that it will be difficult for Hauser since he is a
middle-distance runner, but doesn’t expect him to be largely
affected since Hauser is in the best shape of his life.
UCLA, as a team, accomplished its goal by finishing in the top
ten. The Bruins placed ninth with 212 points. Stanford, after
edging Oregon two weeks ago for the Pac-10 crown, easily won its
second-straight regional title with 37 points.
Oregon wrapped up a qualifying berth to the NCAA Championships
with a second place finish. Meanwhile, Washington State upset
Arizona for third place. The Cougars finished with 129 points,
while the Wildcats tied for fourth with Portland with 133
points.
The Wildcats have been ranked in the top five in the nation but
will have to wait until Monday afternoon to see if the NCAA
selection committee will give it a qualifying spot in the NCAA
Championships.
For the Bruins, Will Bernaldo placed 30th with 31:49. Matt Pitts
placed 55th with 32:43. Pitts also placed 55th with 32:43 two weeks
ago at the Pac-10 Championships with less than half as many
runners. Freshman Bryan Green had one of his best races, placing
56th.
Green, ran in his first-ever collegiate 10,000-meter cross
country race. Paul Muite, still recovering from the flu that hit
him a couple weeks ago, came in 64th in 32:57.
"(Bernaldo) had a great race," Larsen said. "I’m really proud of
him. He was very fatigued the last 1,200-meters of the race but
stayed with a group of runners and managed to beat some of them. He
dug deep and helped the team.
"Pitts came up with one of his best races ever. This race equals
the one he ran at the Pac-10 meet last year."
The Bruins defeated Pac-10 foe California and almost caught
eighth place Arizona State. Larsen said the team ran well,
especially since two of the team’s top five runners have never
competed in a Western Regional race before.
"It was a good race for the team," Larsen said. "Getting ninth
was a good way for the guys to end the season."
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