By Glen Worthington
Daily Bruin Contributor
The UCLA men’s track and field team seeks to divide and
conquer in the next two weeks before the May 5 dual meet at USC.
Athletes will travel in different directions this weekend to
compete in the Mt. SAC Relays, the Antelope Valley Meet and the
Long Beach Invitational.
Since the team aspect is somewhat muted ““ the meet is not
scored by team ““ the goal is self-improvement. The Bruins are
looking for new personal records and NCAA qualifying marks.
The main focus will be the distance events at Mt. SAC and the
throws at Antelope Valley. Both meets include the best competition
nationally, not only at the university level, but at the pro and
Olympic levels as well.
At Antelope Valley, junior Scott Moser will compete in the
invitational bracket, the level above university competition that
includes world-class athletes. Men’s Head Coach Art Venegas
hopes Moser will throw over 200 feet, maybe even better his
nation-leading 206-feet-8 inches. Even so, according to Venegas,
that will only put Moser in about the middle of the invitational
competition.
Miles away, junior Bryan Green will compete in the 10,000-meter
race at Mt. SAC on Friday night. Green currently is ranked 22nd
nationally with a time of 29 minutes, 25.20 seconds.
“My personal goal is to break 29 minutes,” Green
said. “I am going to try to do it smart by going out and
running pace the entire way, not going out too fast and falling off
or getting myself too far behind early. I think that I’m in
shape to do it.”
Other Bruins hoping to move up in the national rankings are
seniors Mason Moore, who will compete in the 3000m steeplechase,
and Paul Muite, who will run the 1500m if he can get healthy (He
has a cold).
“Mt. SAC is in many ways the premier weekend for kids at
this level to have the opportunity to gain qualifying marks for the
NCAAs,” said Men’s Distance Coach Eric Peterson.
“We’re stepping up in a few areas,” Venegas
said. “I just love the way the team is progressing.
We’re moving up just right for “˜SC and the Pac-10s and
getting people lined up for NCAAs.”