UCLA runners leave pack behind

Monday, February 9, 1998

UCLA runners leave pack behind

Bruins shine despite confusion at revived L.A. Invitational

By Donald Morrison

Daily Bruin Contributor

Rushing to stretch, check in and get out onto the track at the
38th Los Angeles Invitational on Saturday, one would think that
track and field runner Mebrahtom Keflezighi would not be mentally
and physically ready to compete in the 3,000-meter race.

Then, if things weren’t bad enough, Keflezighi got confused
about the lap count midway through the race. Head coach Bob Larsen
had to shout out how many laps were left so Keflezighi would know –
he was running on a short track indoors at the Los Angeles Sports
Arena, something he isn’t used to doing.

However, the four-time NCAA champion still managed to win the
race and set a personal record doing it. He was one of several
Bruins to turn in a solid performance at the invitational.

"They didn’t announce they were ahead of schedule (at the meet).
It was crazy," Keflezighi said. "I can’t complain. It turned out
well. I won the race and set a personal record."

Keflezighi continued his winning ways with a time of 8 minutes,
9.0 seconds and had to throw on a huge surge during the last lap to
pull away from a creeping James Menon.

Gabe Jennings of Stanford led the first half of the race before
Keflezighi, Menon and Wilhelm Gibabuday switched off top spots for
the remaining half.

"I think it was an ideal race for him now," Larsen said. "It
shows that he had enough speed at the end to outkick the guys that
were close to him. He’s working hard to get strong workouts
in."

Mark Hauser also competed in the 3,000, and Larsen was pleased
with his performance as well. Hauser finished strongly in sixth,
with a time of 8:16.1.

Hauser and Keflezighi were not the only Bruins who performed
well. Sophomore Jess Strutzel ran one of his strongest 800-meter
races ever, finishing second in 1:50.1 seconds. The only person to
beat Strutzel was four-time Olympian and American record holder
Johnny Gray who ran 1:48.0 seconds.

Strutzel also beat two people he had never beaten before in
competition – Stanford’s Michael Stember and Isaac Turner, formerly
of USC. Strutzel remained in third for most of the race before
surging the last lap to pass up a tiring Turner.

"Outstanding," Larsen said about Strutzel’s performance. "He’s
in really good shape and showed it. That’s an impressive race."

Another sophomore, Michael Granville turned in a good
performance by finishing second in the 500-yard run. Granville ran
56.6 seconds and lost only to Tyree Washington, the 400-meter
bronze medalist at the World Championships in 1997.

Damian Allen and Jim McElroy ran well in the 50-meter dash,
finishing second and third in their heat, respectively – Allen ran
5.77 seconds and McElroy ran 5.82. Allen started out of the blocks
in the lead before the winner, Gregg Sadler, passed him up the last
10 meters. Competing in the 50-meter hurdles was Gerimi Burleigh
who ran 7.11 seconds.

Wade Tift and Travis Haynes finished second and fourth,
respectively in the shot put. Tift through the shot put 61-1/4 and
Haynes had a mark of 58-6 3/4. Both athletes faced strong
competition in former Bruin John Godina. Godina’s winning mark of
69-9 3/4 makes him the ninth best indoor performer in U.S.
history.

Mel Moultry landed in second place in the triple jump with a
mark of 50-2 3/4. Pole vaulter Scott Slover cleared 17-8 1/2 to
finish fourth.

"It was very good," Larsen said about the overall team
performance at the indoor meet. "One of the better performances
we’ve had this early in the season I think in comparison to some of
our best years."