Track splits to Modesto, Occidental meets

Track splits to Modesto, Occidental meets

By Scott Yamaguchi

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

For reasons concerning weather conditions and caliber of
competition, the UCLA track and field teams will head separate ways
this weekend. Some of the squad will travel north to the Modesto
Invitational, some will remain close to home for the Occidental
Invitational and others will remain home to prepare for the
upcoming Pacific-10 and NCAA championship meets.

Modesto, known for optimal throwing conditions, will provide a
forum for most of UCLA’s field events athletes, while Occidental
will host most of the school’s runners.

Headlining the northern Bruin contingent in will be senior
All-Americans Dawn Dumble and John Godina, both of whom will
compete in shotput and discus. Dumble will be joined by junior
Valeyta Althouse, while freshman Suzy Powell will only compete in
the discus. Also competing for the UCLA women will be senior triple
jumper Danielle Brown.

On the men’s side, Godina will be joined in the throwing events
by Mark Parlin and Jonathan Ogden, while Scott Slover will compete
in the pole vault and Thomas Ganda in the long jump. Avery
Anderson, entered in the 110-meter high hurdles, will be UCLA’s
only representative on the Modesto track.

At the Occidental Invitational, the women will be led by Zoe
Shaw and Bisa Grant in the 100 hurdles, Mame Twumasi in the 100,
Erin Blunt in the 400 hurdles and Erica Sumi and Githa Hampson in
the 1,500. The Bruins will run a 1,600 relay team consisting of
Camille Noel, Shelia Burrell, Darlene Malco and Cicely Scott.

Highlights for the men should include Gentry Bradley in the 100
and 200, Ato Boldon in the 200, Ibrahim Hassan and Mike Terry in
the 400 and Tim Shields in the 400 hurdles.