By Christina Teller
Daily Bruin Contributor
Powered by their throwing and distance contingents, the UCLA
women’s track and field team members swept through the
Cal-Nevada championships last weekend, garnering first-place
honors.
With the power of the throwers and the stamina of the distance
runners, the Bruins showed their depth against a variety of
competition.
“It was good heads-up competition out there,” UCLA
head coach Jeannette Bolden said. “Overall our team was a lot
stronger than the other teams competing.”
Finishing the weekend with 114 points, 28 ahead of second-place
California, the Bruins are picking up steam and looking to charge
forward into this weekend’s crosstown battle with USC.
Traditionally a strong meet for the throwers, the dynamic duo of
Seilala Sua and Christina Tollson kept with this precedent.
Sua swept both the discus and shot put competitions, placing
first in both with marks of 203-10 and 55-2.
“Seilala was consistent this weekend,” throwing
coach Art Venegas said. “I was pleased with her good
form.”
Tollson dominated the hammer throw with her 204-1 inch launch.
With the mark, the junior thrower trumped her previous meet record
of 194-3, which she set in the 1998 Cal-Nevada Championships. She
also finished a strong second in the shot put with a 54-6
throw.
In the javelin throw, sophomore Suzanne Linn achieved a personal
best, and advanced to the finals where she placed eighth with her
throw of 131-7.
“We had some good performances this weekend,” Bolden
said. “I’m most impressed with our distance program.
They as a group are really coming into their own.”
With the Bruin distance runners raking in top marks in the 800
meters, 1500 meters and 3000-meter races, the team showed off its
strength and depth.
The 800-meter race was marked by seasonal bests for three
competitors. Ysanne Williams placed third with a time of 2-minutes,
10.46 seconds, Bridget Hatch placed fourth with her time of 2:11.31
and, placing seventh, Tiffany Burgess ran a 2:12.33.
In the 1500-meter race, Christina Bowen and Katie Nuanes
clinched second and third with times of 4:27.85 and 4:29.75
respectively.
“The sprinters didn’t run as fast as they wanted to,
but they competed really well,” Bolden said.
Tamar Cherebin went into the finals with the eighth best time in
the 100-meter dash and finished second in the finals in 12.01
seconds.
“For our sprinters to go out there and get second against
a good field shows their strength,” Bolden said.
With most of the team resting last weekend, the win further
showed the Bruins’ strength and depth. Ranked fourth in the
nation, UCLA sits on the heels of Texas, LSU and USC. Southern Cal
did not compete last weekend, hoping to rest for their visit to
Drake Stadium this weekend, so the rivalry will come to the
forefront Saturday.
“Overall I was very pleased with this weekend,”
Bolden said. “I’ve rested some of the sprinters …
trying to protect their hamstrings because they have to work hard
this weekend to contribute to what we’re doing in the
field.”
And the well-rounded Bruins are starting to peak on the heels of
the rivalry, where pride is the real prize.