UCLA emerges victorious in Disney Collegiate Invitational

Monday, 4/7/97

UCLA emerges victorious in Disney Collegiate Invitational

Men’s, women’s teams defeat competition despite loss of several
key players to injuries

By Emmanuelle Ejercito

Daily Bruin Staff

For the UCLA men’s and women’s track and field teams, Orlando
really is the happiest place on earth, as both teams won the Disney
Collegiate Invitational last Saturday.

The women’s team edged out the competition, which included North
Carolina, Florida State and Central Florida by four and a half
points. Meanwhile, the men’s team finished comfortably ahead of
North Carolina, George Mason and Florida.

The men’s team placed first in six different events, many of
which were field events.

Ritch Pitchford took the top spot in the high jump, while junior
Scott Slover won the pole vault. Junior Josh Johnson, who was
hampered all of last season by an elbow injury, was victorious in
the javelin throw. And senior David Dumble emerged as the winner in
the discus.

There was success in the running events as well.

Mebrahtom Keflezighi, continuing his series of strong showings,
captured first place in the 1,500 meter race.

"It was quite breezy and that held down in the distances how
fast they could run," UCLA men’s head coach Bob Larsen said. "But
it was still competitive and tactical."

Another source for eight more Bruin points came from the 400
meter relay, despite the absence of another key runner. Damian
Allen, the promising freshman sprinter, was not able to run on the
relay team. Allen injured himself last Tuesday during spring
football practice. So the already thin team, which has also lost
Ibrahim Hassan and Akil Davis to injuries, got even thinner.

Brian Fell replaced Allen in the lineup and ran the third leg of
the race, joining Randy Brookes, Brandon Thomas and anchor Jim
McElroy.

"We got a lot out of the meet," Larsen said. "We feel great
about winning it."