John Godina turned pro after setting the all-time collegiate
shot put record with UCLA in 1995, at 72 feet, 2 1/4 inches. The
record still stands.
By J.P. Hoornstra and Jeff Eisenberg
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
[email protected], [email protected]
Sitting inconspicuously at the edge of the shot put pit, among a
group of throwers and vaulters enjoying their down time between
competition, sat two of the greatest ever to wear the blue and
gold.
John Godina, the wide blond-haired guy in the black shirt, has
been ranked among the top four shot putters in the world each of
the last eight years.
Jonathan Ogden, the tall guy with the massive ‘fro and the
shiny Super Bowl ring on his finger, was a nationally-ranked
shot-putter for the Bruins in 1995 before winning that championship
ring with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001.
“These were the good old days for me,” said Ogden.
“I remember being out here against ‘SC, throwing.
“I think the team is doing a great job right now.
It’s maintaining the standards that UCLA has had in the
past.”
Photos from UCLA Sports Info Jonathan Ogden, top, threw shot put
at UCLA before winning a Super Bowl ring.
Beginning with Ogden and Godina in the mid-’90s, UCLA has
established a tradition of strong throwers that is unmatched on the
West Coast. Since Godina’s sophomore year in 1993, the UCLA
men have won five Pac-10 titles in the shot put and are the
favorites again this year.
That legacy has obviously made a lasting impression on
Ogden.
“It’s good to see track and field get some
support,” he said.
“Football definitely pays the bills, but if they both paid
the same, I would have done track and field.”
Those are big words coming from one of the best in the game. A
four-year starter at UCLA, Ogden was the fourth pick in the 1996
draft and has emerged as a four-time Pro Bowl starter at left
tackle for the Ravens.
His throwing credentials are also impressive.
He won the shot put at the 1996 NCAA Indoor Championships (63
feet, 8 inches), and finished fourth outdoors in 1995 (61
1-1/2).
Already a world class shot-putter when he graduated in 1995,
Godina has emerged as a force in the sport under the sponsorship of
Adidas. He has finished as the top-ranked shot-putter in the world
five times in his career, and has never finished below number
four.
He is currently preparing for the U.S. Championships on June 22,
and frequently drops in on UCLA practices to offer guidance to the
current throwers.
“I just try to keep their heads straight,” Godina
said. “One day they are going to go real far as a group. They
have a lot of potential that they still haven’t realized
yet.”
Godina, Ogden and this year’s crop of throwers all learned
the craft under coach Art Venegas and owe much of their success to
his tutelage.
“He’s definitely made me what I am,” Godina
said. “I think if I had gone to any other school …
I’d probably be in an office somewhere. He’s the main
reason I have been so successful.”
A sense of loyalty to the successful UCLA program brings the
alumni back for every Big Meet. With Ogden and Godina looking on,
UCLA’s Dan Ames, Scott Wiegand, Jack Clamon and Scott Moser
finished 1-2-3-4 in the shot put on Saturday.
Years from now, look for those four among the spectators at the
edge of the pit.