UCLA track and field satisfied with indoor championship results
By Tiffany Esmailian
March 3, 2014 12:53 a.m.
The UCLA track and field team returned from its Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Indoor Championships on Saturday feeling content with
its individual talent.
The meet took place at the Dempsey Indoor Facility on the University of Washington campus, and both the men’s and women’s teams were happy with their personal results in Washington.
”We came in fourth overall which wasn’t our goal – our goal is always to win – so we came up short of our goals, but we definitely fought hard and the team gave (its) maximum effort,” said senior pole vaulter Mike Woepse, on behalf of the men’s team.
One individual performance highlight came from senior Marcus Nilsson, who received the heptathlon title with 5,665 points. With that, the Bruins received top honors in both the heptathlon and the women’s pentathlon event, which senior Tatum Souza won for UCLA.
Although they are satisfied with their individual results, the athletes plan to shift their goals into the outdoor season and move forward.
“We’re going to send two guys to the NCAA championships for the men’s,” Woepse said. “We would have liked to send more but the people that qualified are definitely in a position to score and be in the top eight to become All-Americans. The rest will continue to work and prepare for the outdoor season.”
On the women’s side, junior hurdler Brea Buchanan placed second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.31 seconds, and the team placed in sixth overall.
“This season was a struggle, but we got a week off last week, so everything I did at practice I executed at the meet today,” Buchanan said. “I came in ranked as sixth and came out in second place, so I did well – could do better, but no regrets.”
The Bruins continue to train this week to prepare for the athletes who will go to the NCAA championships, which will take place on March 14 and 15 at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M. The rest of the team will continue to train as well, but in preparation for the outdoor season.
“I was not expected to do as well as I did,” Buchanan said. “I surprised myself, which means I clearly have a lot left in me and something big is coming up.”
Compiled by Tiffany Esmailian, Bruin Sports contributor.
