UCLA track and field makes an impact at the USA Track and Field Junior/Senior National Championships as throwers Derek Eager and Alec Faldermeyer take first in their events, qualify for Pan American Championships
All-American rising sophomore Alec Faldermeyer won the hammer throw with a distance of 241-2.
By Chris Nguyen
July 5, 2011 3:58 a.m.
Several current and graduated Bruins competed in both the USA Track and Field Junior/Senior National Championships, held June 23-26 in Eugene, Ore. The meets served as a qualifier for the Senior World Championships as well as the Pan American Junior Championships.
Two of the newest Bruin alums were distance runner Cory Primm from the men’s side and sprinter Joy Eaton from the women’s side. Both competed in the senior portion of the track meet.
Primm came off a strong season for the UCLA men’s track and field team, culminating in a sixth-place finish in the 800 meters at NCAA Championships with a time of 1:47.01. During the season, he broke a school record in the 800m at Occidental with a time of 1:44.71.
However, Primm fell short at the USATF Senior National Championships and did not qualify for the final heat after finishing seventh in his semifinal heat.
Eaton had a prolific career as a Bruin sprinter. She was a member of the 4×400m relay team that qualified for NCAA Championships. However, Eaton, like Primm, fell short at the USATF Senior National Championships.
She did not qualify out of the preliminary round after finishing fifth in her heat and 21st overall with a time of 55.15 in the 400m.
Rising junior hurdler Turquoise Thompson was the only other Bruin from the 2011 season to compete in the senior section of the meet and had much more success.
Thompson was coming off a very successful season in which she finished second in the 400m hurdles at NCAA Championships. She was a mere .004 seconds removed from the national title with a time of 55.646.
At the USATF Senior National Championships, Thompson did something neither Primm nor Eaton could do: advance to the final heat.
In her final race of the year, Thompson achieved a personal-best time of 55.53 in the 400m hurdles, finishing fourth. She was one spot removed from qualifying for the World Championship team.
UCLA had more athletes compete in the junior section of the meet than in the senior event, with six athletes from the men’s team, one athlete from the women’s team and two incoming freshmen for the men’s team.
Rising sophomore thrower Derek Eager of the UCLA men’s track and field team won the javelin event at the USATF Junior National Championships with a throw of 227-1. His throw beat the second-place throw by more than seven feet. Eager finished second at least year’s competition.
All-American rising sophomore thrower Alec Faldermeyer joined Eager as a champion at the meet by winning the hammer throw event. His throw of 241-2 bested the second-place finish by more than 20 feet.
Faldermeyer was honored as an All-American in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Faldermeyer will also join Eager at the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships to be held July 22-24 in Miramar, Fla.
Compiled by Chris Nguyen, Bruin Sports senior staff.
