By Christina Teller
Daily Bruin Contributor
The UCLA women’s track and field team’s goal awaits
it in just 19 days in Durham, N.C. But it’s not quite time,
yet.
Competing at both the Modesto and Occidental invitationals, the
Bruins are looking to this weekend as both a final chance for fine
tuning before the Pac-10 Championships next weekend and competition
for those who haven’t qualified for Pac-10s.
The throwers and jumpers, the brawn of the UCLA crew, will
travel to Modesto.
“It’s a meet primarily for the throwers and
jumpers,” throwing coach Art Venegas said. “It gives us
a chance to sharpen our skills before the Pac-10
competition.”
Senior Seilala Sua will compete in her final regular season meet
this weekend. Following strong performances in her last three meets
““ at Mt. Sac, Texas and against USC ““ Sua is coming
into her own.
This weekend, she will be matched up against some of the best
throwers in the world. Battling some cold and flu symptoms over the
past few weeks, Sua may be under the weather, though she
doesn’t expect that to slow her down.
“This weekend is a chance to get our timing for the big
meets,” Venegas said. “It’s kind of a practice
meet. We can have huge marks, but that’s not why we’re
going.”
Rounding out the Bruins’ throwing squad is junior
Christina Tollson. Having consistently dominated the hammer throw
competition in virtually every meet this season, Tollson will take
a break from that event this weekend and will compete only in the
shot put. Tollson currently tops the Pac-10 qualifying list in the
shot put and hammer throw.
Leading the jumpers this weekend is junior Heather Newlin, who
attained a personal best of 5-feet-8 inches against USC. Standout
sophomores Darnesha Griffith and Keyon Soley will rest this weekend
in preparation for the Pac-10 championships.
Closer to home for the Bruins is the Occidental Invitational
““ where the the team’s distance runners will
compete.
“This meet is a time for those going to the Pac-10 to tune
up for the championships, and for the others it’s the race to
finish their year,” UCLA distance coach Eric Peterson
said.
For the 800-meter runners, this is their chance to qualify for
Pac-10s. Entered in the race are sophomores Ysanne Williams and
Bridie Hatch and junior Katie Nuanes.
“Ysanne has been running better in practice week to
week,” Peterson said. “Now it’s a matter of
getting out there and finding a good race.”
After their highlight performance at last weekend’s USC
meet, runners Elaine Canchola and Christina Bowen will compete in
the 1,500 and 3,000 meters, respectively. Within 45 minutes, the
pair doubled in those events at the USC meet, edging out Ana
Lopachiuch and sweeping the 1,500 event.
Bowen enters the 3,000 meters looking for a higher qualifying
time.
“She’s going to have to run at the level that she
was at last year in order to get into nationals,” Peterson
said. “Because this isn’t a championship meet with two
rounds, we’re going to go for it this weekend.”
As the bulk of the distance squad finishes their season in
Occidental this weekend, it also provides an opportunity to finish
on a high note.
With the Pac-10 meet just a week away and nationals looming in
the distance, the Bruins will compete this weekend not for a
championship, and not for the pride that was on the line last
weekend. The Bruins are in this one for themselves ““ to
continue to prove what they are capable of.