By Christina Teller
Daily Bruin Contributor
Last weekend was one of preparation and practice for the UCLA
women’s track and field team as the distance runners competed
at the Occidental Invitational and the field contingent competed in
Modesto with only one week before the Pac-10 Championships and two
weeks before the NCAA meet in Durham, N.C.
“We got a lot out of the meet. Our athletes ran
great,” UCLA distance coach Eric Peterson said.
“We’re ready for the Pac-10 meet now.”
Occidental offered the opportunity for a number of
Peterson’s runners to prepare for the Pac-10s. Ysanne
Williams, Christina Bowen and Elaine Canchola, who already
qualified for the conference meet, used their races to try for a
better, and potential NCAA-qualifying time.
Williams came through in a blazing time of 2:06.93 in the 800
meters. Finishing sixth overall, the time was a provisional
qualifier for the NCAA meet.
“We’re not sure if it’s enough to get her into
the meet, but it was a big improvement for her,” Peterson
said. Steadily building steam throughout the season, Bowen looked
strong as she won her 3000 meter race, finishing in 9:30.74, an
improvement from her previous 9:32 at the USC dual meet.
“She’s got a great shot at the Pac-10 meet, to run
well and score for her team,” Peterson said. “She
looked really strong out there.”
Canchola ran the 1500 meters in preparation for a test of
strength and stamina next weekend. She finished third in her race
in 4:30.39.
The 800 meters proved to be a friendly arena for the Bruins last
weekend as three runners clocked their lifetime bests. Katie Nuanes
finished in 2:10.86, Tiffany Burgess notched a 2:10.08 and in her
final collegiate race, senior Peggy Hall grabbed her best time with
2:12.43.
Meanwhile in Modesto, while the Bruin throwers did not fare
especially well, the vaulting squad came on strong and notched a
handful of personal records.
“It wasn’t a spectacular meet, but we go to it to
keep people working on techniques and to prepare for the
Pac-10s,” UCLA throwing coach Art Venegas said.
Christina Tollson and Seilala Sua took a break from their power
events ““ the hammer throw and discus, respectively ““
this weekend and competed solely in the shot put. Tollson placed
third with a mark of 55-1 1/2 and Sua notched a fourth-place finish
with her 53-7 throw.
“It didn’t go as well as I wanted because I
didn’t get a personal best,” Sua said.
“I’m going to focus on the upcoming meets and put
this one behind me.”
With a week of practice before Pac-10s, Sua plans to work on
preparing for the meet through the preceding five days. “I
need to compete better and get more into the meet, not only on that
day, but during the whole week before,” she said.
Bruin pole vaulter Tracy O’Hara got a taste of the
championship competition awaiting her Saturday as she faced off
against world record holder, Stacy Dragila, in Modesto.
O’Hara cleared 14-3 1/4 to place third in the meet. Dragila,
whose record O’Hara challenged earlier in the season, won the
meet and tied her world record at 15-1.
Rounding out the vaulting team were personal record performances
from Heather Sickler, Karen Bewley and Bridget Pearson. Sickler
tied for first at 12-10 1/4, securing a spot for herself at the
NCAAs. Pearson and Bewley both notched 11-1/2 leaps.
With two of their biggest meets left in front of them, though,
the Bruins are preparing harder than ever before, in hopes of
winning a conference and national championship.