UCLA track and field falls to USC despite earning individual accolades
The Bruins compete against the Trojans in the women’s 1500 meters. USC won the event by having the first-place finisher, Erica Capellino, gaining five points. UCLA tallied four points by having the second- and third-place finishers earning three points and one point respectively. (Owen Emerson/Daily Bruin)
By Vikram Sairam
May 4, 2015 12:00 a.m.
As the meet was coming to a close, and members of each team began to huddle around one and other, only one event was left to determine the outcome of the meet at USC’s Loker Stadium this weekend – the 4×400-meter relay.
Because the annual rivalry between the programs is a dual meet, all winning relays obtain five points for their team while the loser receives zero. With just the 4x400m left, the Bruin men held onto an 81-77 lead over the crosstown rivals, meaning crossing the line first was the only option in order to prevent the Trojans from snagging an 82-81 victory. Although the Bruin men fell in the last leg of the relay, and the women fell 93-70, there were a number of athletes who made personal strides.
One of these athletes was senior Elena Clarke, who led the women’s pole vault group in a one-two-three sweep, with Kayla Mallett and Renee Greene following in second and third respectively. Clarke, who vaulted a season-best of 13-3.75, said competing against USC brought out the best in her during the week’s practice.
“This week I worked harder than any other week all year, and I just had the confidence coming in,” Clarke said. “My whole team was here cheering me on for each vault, it’s just an awesome feeling right now.”
With the Pac-12 championship coming up in less than two weeks, this meet served as a prelude for Clarke, who said this is where her season can be determined.
“I just missed a lifetime best today after clearing (13-3.75), but we have Pac-12s in two weeks and I’m hoping to get it done there,” Clarke said. “Not really gonna change anything at this point, we just need to nitpick those little details and then hopefully qualify for nationals.”
Leading the way in the shot put, redshirt sophomore Torie Owers captured first with a mark of 53-7.5. Just like Clarke, this weekend’s meet meant more to Owers than others in her preparation.
“This week has been a good week of practice, and obviously with all the spirit around the team for the dual meet, I wanted to do well and represent my team,” Owers said.
Owers just recently transferred to UCLA from Cal, where she did not reach similar levels of success. However, the transition to Westwood has been one of great importance to her.
“Really UCLA has been a lifesaver. I had a really hard time at Cal with getting injured and not getting along with the coaches over there,” Owers said. “So coming here where I just have the best teammates and the wonderful coach (John) Frazier, it’s helped me mentally and physically become a better person, and even a happier person.”
Triple jumper freshman Idrees Bernard, who had garnered several top finishes this season, made his name known once again over the weekend. After obtaining second place in the long jump, Bernard carried the momentum into an explosive performance in his marquee event.
“It started off slow, my first couple of jumps were alright. I knew it was going to take something special,” Bernard said. “It was so intense. On my second-to-last jump I had a huge jump but I scratched. I was really upset because it was so nice.”
With only one jump left, Bernard talked to his coaches. “‘Just do the exact same thing, but scoot back a little,’ that’s what (jumps and multievents coach Jack Hoyt) kept telling me,” Bernard said.
On his last attempt, Bernard leaped into the pit for a winning mark of 50-6, achieving a lifetime best.
Although the Bruins felt short to the Trojans, the meet ended with several personal victories for several UCLA athletes.
