Running their course

Thursday, October 9, 1997

Running their course

Elizondo takes new approach to running, assumes total
control

By Donald Morrison

Daily Bruin Contributor

Injuries are an unfortunate part of sports. They can strike at
any time or any place during practice or competition. However, for
men’s cross-country runner, Devin Elizondo, injuries may have been
a blessing in disguise.

Elizondo, who suffered two stress fractures in his leg and foot
the past two track seasons, entered the 1997 cross-country season
with a new perspective toward running and training.

"I’ve paid more attention to my body this year," Elizondo said.
"In past years I may have tried to run through things, but just
having the experience made me cut back on training. In past years,
when I was younger, I wouldn’t pay too much attention to my body. I
would think that I could run through it. I’ve cut down a bit on
training. If I’m hurting and it’s pretty serious, I’ll back
off."

Elizondo has not backed off this season. He is in the best shape
he has ever been and is battling teammate Mark Hauser for the No. 2
spot on the cross-country team.

"This is one of the first falls that he’s been healthy for an
extensive period of time," UCLA head coach Bob Larsen said. "This
year he’s been able to go through the summer training consistently.
He’s showing more strength in his workouts than he has in the
past."

Elizondo’s past has been hampered by stress fracture injuries
that ruined potentially promising track seasons. Last spring, after
running a team best 9:10.11 in the 3000-meter steeple chase,
Elizondo developed a stress fracture in his lower leg early in the
season and was forced to sit out for the rest of the year.

Elizondo entered the 1996 track season hoping to contribute to a
Pacific10 Championship. The previous year he placed fifth in the
3000-meter steeplechase and seventh in the 5000 meter at the
conference meet. However, injury would strike when he developed a
stress fracture in his foot.

Elizondo, not knowing he had a stress fracture, continued to
compete in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the Pac-10 Championships
and was unable to participate in any of the races the next day.

"That was the worst race I ever ran in my life," Elizondo said.
"Each step was pain. You get upset. You want to do it for the team.
You want to help out and get points for a Pac-10 Championship.

"All those things that you work so hard for since August and not
being able to compete at the end of May, hurts. I thought, ‘I did
all this just to be sitting in the stands like everyone else.’ That
was difficult for me to do."

Elizondo has overcome his injuries and is enjoying a good early
season for UCLA. His newfound health has enabled him to perform
well in his first two races.

At the Texas Invitational in Austin, Texas on Sept. 13, Elizondo
was the third runner to cross the finish line, with a time of 20:00
over 8000 meters.

Two weeks ago at the Stanford Invitational, Elizondo, after
having an intense week of practice, managed to cross the tape for
15th place.

Teammate Mebrahtom Keflezighi noticed changes in Elizondo’s
attitude this season.

"He’s taking it more serious this year," Keflezighi. "I competed
against him in high school, and he’s getting back to that mentality
of being tough, and I can see that in the workouts."

Along with being injury-free and a senior, Elizondo, is playing
a bigger role for the team than he ever did before.

"He’s a vocal leader," Keflezighi said. "He pumps the team up
through talking. I’ve learned a lot from him. I’m learning to be
more vocal too. A lot of guys respect him as an individual and as a
team leader also."

"(Elizondo) and (Keflezighi) are two of the strongest leaders we
have on the team," Larsen said. "(Elizondo) always has some
thoughts to share with the team."

Elizondo’s leadership role is something that he accepts with
enthusiasm. He regularly discusses upcoming meets with teammates
and encourages them to run well and feel confident.

"I’ve taken on more of a motivational role for the team, and I
like it," Elizondo said.

Confidence in the team and himself may be one of the other
reasons why Elizondo is enjoying his final cross-country
season.

"I ran pretty well during the summer," Elizondo said. "I’m
finding that it’s starting to kick in and keeping me healthy. I’m
in shape, so I can handle the harder training.

"We can also do a lot of good things as a team. The Pac-10 is
strong with five teams ranked in the top 20, but (Hauser) and
myself feel that we can run with any of their top five runners, and
if that happens then our number four and five guys will run
harder."

Elizondo is looking forward to the rest of the season and
believes that the team can accomplish its goal of qualifying for
the NCAA Championships. It’s a goal that has eluded the team and
Elizondo during his first three years at UCLA, but it’s an
aspiration that Elizondo won’t let injuries crush.

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