UCLA running for respect at Arizona State tourney

Friday, October 16, 1998

UCLA running for respect at Arizona State tourney

Fall in rankings spurs team to impress rest of nation

By Donald Morrison

Daily Bruin Contributor

The No. 24 UCLA women’s cross country team is looking for
respect. That’s why the team is heading down to Gilbert, Ariz., to
compete at the Arizona State Invitational.

The Bruins dropped two spots in the national rankings from No.
22 to No. 24 after winning the Murray Keating Invitational in Maine
last Saturday.

UCLA hopes that a good showing at today’s meet against ranked
opponents like No. 2 Stanford, No. 12 Northern Arizona and No. 15
Arizona State will give it more national exposure.

‘It’s a great opportunity for the team to really try to continue
to gain the national respect that we’re looking for as we get
closer to the NCAA Championships,’ said UCLA women’s cross country
head coach Eric Peterson.

The Bruins did beat Northern Arizona in September at the UC
Irvine Invite ­ with the absence of NAU’s best runner.
However, NAU returned the favor at the Roy Griak Invite three weeks
ago, defeating UCLA with its top runner competing.

The Bruins may not have a runner that is the favorite to win the
individual title or pose many problems for the leaders in the race.
Yet, they do have runners that could pose problems for opposing
teams.

‘The way we’re going to beat teams is to pack our (Top 5)
scorers in before (the No. 3 runner) of the other team can finish,’
Peterson said. ‘If we can get our five scorers in front of their
No.3 runner, we give ourselves a chance to be successful.’

At UCLA’s last meet, it had six runners within 25 seconds of
each other and won the meet with its highest finisher, Kelly Cohn,
placing fourth.

‘That’s our strength,’ Peterson said. ‘We have good depth.’

Cohn, after running one of her cross-country personal bests last
week for 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) in 17 minutes, 49 seconds, will
lead the Bruins again.

She’s been UCLA’s No. 1 runner every race that she’s competed in
this season. Peterson expects Cohn to finish this race under 17:48
and set a new cross-country personal record.

‘Every time (Cohn’s) challenged by this team she responds and
gets better,’ Peterson said. ‘She gets stiff challenges from other
members of the team. They make (Cohn) run better.’

UCLA will be without sophomore Kara Barnard. Barnard, who was
UCLA’s No. 2 runner last week, is out with a bad cold. Junior Julie
Ott and freshman Elaine Canchola are expected to battle for the
team’s No. 2 slot. Juniors Christina Bowen and Melinda George will
also run along with Katie Nuanes.

Peterson, who is pleased with the competition among the team
members, expects that the Bruins will have a good meet.

‘Our goal is to get everyone under 18 minutes (for 5,000
meters),’ Peterson said.

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