Runners display right stuff for the ‘A’ team

Tuesday, October 6, 1998

Runners display right stuff for the ‘A’ team

RECAP: Inexperienced members on men’s, women’s teams perform
surprisingly well at Biola Invitational

By Donald Morrison

Daily Bruin Contributor

The UCLA men’s and women’s cross-country teams gave an
opportunity to some of their runners this weekend to prove that
they belong on the "A" team.

With the results of the Biola Invitational in La Mirada, CA,
UCLA may have to shuffle its top seven lineup next weekend.

UCLA sent a majority of "B" team runners to the meet last
Saturday. Members of the "B" teams are runners that are not in the
team’s top seven.

However, the Bruin runners cruised successfully as the men’s
team won the meet and the women finished third.

"I’m pleased they won the race," men’s head coach Bob Larsen
said. "They ran solid. It was good experience for them. The team
showed strength and determination."

The men won their race with a combined team score of 60 points,
24 points ahead of second-place finisher Biola.

Matt Pitts placed sixth for UCLA in 26 minutes, 40 seconds over
the 8,000-meter course.

With his performance over the most difficult course the team has
run on this year, Pitts may jump into team’s top seven for next
weekend’s race in Maine.

"(Pitts) ran better and stronger this week than he did last
week," Larsen said. "He may run in Maine, but we’ll see."

Ryan Larson finished 11th in 27:13 and Adrian Ramirez finished
just behind Larson in 12th place with a time of 27:14. Freshman
Justin Pantananan finished 22nd in 27:40, while Scott Abbot placed
23rd in 27:44.

Redshirt freshman Andrew Wulf, running in his first collegiate
cross-country race, placed 47th in 27:44.

Larsen said that the high grass and steep rolling hills on the
course made the times slower than on flat courses.

Freshman Elaine Canchola, who is currently the No. 3 runner,
wrapped up the first collegiate victory of her career as she
dominated the field at the Biola Invite.

Canchola covered the hilly 5,000 meter course in 18:51. She
controlled the race and took the lead for good after the half-mile
mark.

"(Canchola) has been a huge addition to our team," women’s head
coach Eric Peterson said. "She did a great job. She won it and she
was very pleased."

Melinda George finished sixth in 19:12. George is the team’s No.
7 runner but Peterson believes she’ll improve later in the
season.

"We need (George) to step up later in the season and I think
she’ll do that," Peterson said.

Another freshman, Kelly Grimes, placed 10th in 19:28. Meanwhile,
Nicole Luque placed 16th in 19:51 and Jessica Matthews placed 21st
in 20:30.

The women, ranked No. 20 in the country, placed third with 53
points while Concordia University in Irvine won the race with a
total score of 44 points.

"It was good experience for the kids," Peterson said. "They’re
trying to grow and develop and make the top seven."

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© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board