NICOLE MILLER/Daily Bruin Senior Mason
Moore, shown here at USC, won the 3,000 meter steeplechase
at Occidental in 9:01.29.
By Glen Worthington
Daily Bruin Contributor
The preliminary part of the men’s track and field season
has come to a close. After many meets, many personal records and
many triumphs, the real test begins this Saturday at the Pac-10
championships.
While the majority of the team was resting, a small Bruin
contingent competed at the Modesto and Occidental Invitational
Saturday, the season’s final “tune-up” meets.
For some athletes, this was their last competition of the
season. For others, this was a stepping stone to bigger things. For
a few, Saturday’s competition was a statement that they want
a spot on the 24-man UCLA squad vying for the Pac-10 title at
Berkeley next weekend.
The pole vaulters competed at Modesto, a meet known for
excellent pole vaulting conditions. And the Bruins took full
advantage of the good weather.
Freshman Yoo Kim cleared 17 feet for only the second time ever
in competition. His vault of 17.325 feet won the open competition
and puts him up with the best in the Pac-10. He set a new personal
best for the second week in a row, most likely securing a spot for
next weekend’s competition in the process.
Other UCLA standouts were sophomore Jared Drake and junior Joe
Snee who tied for fourth at 16-feet-1/2, just off their personal
bests.
The remainder of the active Bruins traveled to Occidental.
Junior Scott Moser and redshirt freshman Dan Ames worked on the
hammer. They hope to go 1-2 in the discus and shot put at the
Pac-10s, but compared to their nationally ranked marks in those
events, they struggled in the hammer.
Struggling for Moser and Ames, however, is a relative term.
Moser placed second in the invitational hammer with a 193-feet-5
inch toss followed by Ames in fourth with 186-5.
Sophomore Scott Wiegand had something to prove in the shot put
and discus Saturday. He wants to make the throwing tandem a triad.
Wiegand placed second in the invitational discus at 179-9, a
personal best by two inches, and fifth in the shot put at 57-5.
Former UCLA standout John Godina (’95) also competed at
Occidental. He easily won both his events with strong marks of
216-1 in the discus and 68-4 in the shot put.
More than any other Bruins on Saturday, UCLA’s distance
runners fought for Pac-10 spots. Men’s Distance Coach Eric
Peterson isn’t sure yet how many spots he’ll have for
distance runners. With only 24 athletes allowed per team, the
coaches must get together and decide where athletes are most
needed. For seven Bruin distance runners, Saturday was the last
opportunity to say, “Pick me coach!”
“We had a lot of good performances,” Peterson said.
“All the guys were on the bubble for the Pac-10s going into
the meet, and almost everyone strengthened their case.”
Standouts included freshman Jon Rankin, who won the open
800-meter with a lifetime best time of 1 minute, 51.87 seconds, and
senior Paul Muite who placed sixth in the invitational 800m at
1:50.55, also a lifetime best. For both athletes, normally 1500m
runners, this was an off event.
The steeplechasers also had a good showing, finishing 1-2-3 in
the invitational section. Senior Mason Moore won the event with a
season-best time of 9:01.29. Moore’s time puts him in the top
three of the Pac-10. Sophomore Justin Patananan (9:10.04) and
junior Andrew Wulf (9:10.40) followed.
Peterson was pleased with the strong performances. Still,
nothing is sure for the Pac-10s.
Now decisions must be made. Not everyone who deserves a spot can
have one. This weekend was the last piece in the Pac-10 puzzle. All
that remains is to look at the picture and see who is going.