By Glen Worthington
Daily Bruin Contributor
Following a disappointing loss to USC last week, the UCLA
men’s track and field team hopes to redeem itself by winning
the Pac-10 title next week. But in the meantime, a handful of Bruin
athletes will see action at either the Occidental or Modesto
Invitational on Saturday.
The distance runners and throwers will compete at Occidental
against top-level invitational competition. Some will be trying to
make a statement that they belong at Pac-10s, while others who are
assured of their spot in the conference championships will have
their last chance for technique refinements.
“What I’m trying to do is finalize some decisions I
have to make for the Pac-10 championships,” said men’s
Distance Coach Eric Peterson. “As of this moment, I
don’t have anyone who is a sure bet to go. I’m really
trying to determine which kids are in the best position to not only
go and have good races but also contribute to the team score.
“Saturday night’s races will give some
clarity,” Peterson added.
For the distance team, a lot needs to be proved. While the
Bruins’ most consistent distance performers, senior Will
Bernaldo and junior Bryan Green, are resting, the rest of the squad
will try to prove they deserve a shot at Pac-10 glory.
Freshmen Nick Thornton and Jon Rankin, junior Martin Brix, and
senior Paul Muite will compete in the 800 meters, an off event for
Rankin and Muite, who are usually 1500m runners.
In the 3000m steeplechase, all three Bruins who competed in the
USC meet will return in that event. Junior Andrew Wulf, sophomore
Justin Patananan and senior Mason Moore will battle it out with
nothing to lose and everything to prove.
Also at Occidental, sophomores Scott Wiegand and Jack Clamon
will compete in the shot put. Wiegand will throw the discus
too.
UCLA’s nationally-ranked throwing tandem of junior Scott
Moser and redshirt freshman Dan Ames will compete in the hammer
throw only. The two are the favorites in the Pac-10 in both the
shot put and the discus but slightly off the lead in the hammer.
Maybe something will click this weekend as they work on their
hammer technique that will propel them into position to take that
event at the Pac-10s as well.
Other field event athletes will be at Modesto.
Sophomore Jason Churchill hopes to set a new personal record in
the long jump; he will most likely compete in the triple jump later
in the day although his main focus is setting a lifetime best in
the long jump. This may be his last chance this season.
The pole vaulters hope to excel against tough competition.
According to Pole Vault Coach Anthony Curran, Modesto is a pole
vault mecca for late season meets because of its conducive winds
and perennially good weather. Senior Steve Michels is looking for
big marks. He is just now getting back to form from an early-season
injury. This is his last year so count on him to try to do
something big.
Freshman Yoo Kim is coming off his first 17-foot vault at the
USC meet. He wants to prove it wasn’t a fluke and place
himself in a position to compete for points in the Pac-10 meet. He
ranks seventh in the Pac-10 after Saturday’s performance.
“This weekend I am hoping to get good rhythm in the hammer
and good confidence for our distance runners” said
men’s Head Coach Art Venegas. “Some of our kids that
probably aren’t going to the Pac-10s are going to get a
couple more chances to get a good time and maybe position
themselves for a Pac-10 spot.”
The rest of the team will spend this weekend focusing on the
next. The Bruins need to pull out all the stops if they hope to win
the Pac-10. It seems unlikely, but it is a definite possibility if
the right guys put up the right numbers at the right time. After
all, the entire season has been geared for that moment.