Strutzel triumph highlights meet

Thursday, February 18, 1999

Strutzel triumph highlights meet

TRACK: Team attempts to move ahead, qualify for NCAA
tournament

By Moin Salahuddin

Daily Bruin Contributor

Imagine the elation one would feel defeating a perennial
Olympian.

It seems hard to realize, but for UCLA runner Jess Strutzel that
is not the case.

Competing at the L.A. Indoor Invitational last weekend, Strutzel
overcame a perplexed Johnny Gray to win the 800 meter title.

Gray, who has represented the United States in the Olympics in
the 800 meters for decades, had recently defeated Strutzel in San
Diego. However, this time Gray could not control the euphoric
enthusiasm Strutzel possessed.

"Strutzel’s been running well and he finally beat (Gray)," UCLA
head coach Bob Larsen said. "Jess let Gray lead and when he passed
him, held Gray off for the win."

Gray led off from the start of the five lap race on the 160
meter wooden track. However, Strutzel stayed close to Gray through
the first three laps.

Following a pre-race plan that Coach Larsen and Strutzel had
discussed, Strutzel took the lead on the backstretch of the track
with two laps remaining.

Gray fought back to overtake Strutzel and with less than two
laps to go, Gray put his hands in the air, as if not knowing how
many laps were left.

Strutzel made his final move at this point and valiantly held
off Gray for a time of 1:49.37. Gray came back but lost by a narrow
margin, 1:49.39.

Also competing for the Bruins was senior sensation Mark Hauser.
Facing another Olympian Jason Pyrah and Washington State phenom
Bernard Lagat, Hauser needed a strong run to win the mile race.

However, Lagat took over the race midway and never looked back,
as he won in 4:01.03. Pyrah finished second in 4:01.68 while Hauser
placed third in 4:02.08.

"Lagat ran 3:34 for 1500 meters in Europe last summer," Larsen
said. "That converts to a 3:51 mile, which is amazing for a college
runner."

Several other UCLA runners travelled to Colorado to compete at
Air Force. Among them were sprinters Damien Allen, Terrence
Williams, John Hall and Malikai Davis. Throwers Travis Haynes, Wade
Tift, Scott Moser and pole vaulters Brian McLaughlin and Steve
Micheals also competed.

Allen ran the 60 meter race indoors and ran a NCAA provisional
qualifying time of 6.65.

"Allen will need to run a little faster to guarantee a spot in
the NCAA meet," Larsen said.

Williams made his track season debut running the 400 meters. He
finished in an impressive time of 47.75.

Hall ran the 60 meter high hurdles and raced on the 1600 meter
relay team along with Allen, Williams and freshman Davis.

The 1600 meter relay squad sprinted to a 3:13.35 time without
several of their top sprinters.

"We’ve already run 3:09 but we’ll need to lower that time (in
order to have a NCAA automatic qualifying time)," Larsen said.
"We’re currently 11th in the nation and the NCAA takes the top
10."

Tift won the shot put with a monstrous throw of 61’7.75". Also
throwing over 59 feet were redshirt freshman Moser and senior
Haynes.

In the pole vault, McLaughlin continued to improve as he cleared
a personal record height of 17’2.75". Michaels cleared
16’4.75".

The first outdoor meet of this young season also occurred last
weekend at the Long Beach Relays.

Competing for UCLA were distance runners Will Bernaldo, Matt
Pitts, Mason Moore and Bryan Green.

Bernaldo finished second in the 5000 meters. His time of 14:49
was only several seconds off his best time, despite this being his
first race of the season. In that same race, Green notched a
15:00.

Racing in the 3000 meter steeple chase were Pitts and Moore.
Pitts ran a personal record of 9:38.89 and finished second.
Finishing third was Moore, in 9:43.98.

UCLA will be competing in the USA Nationals and the NCAA Indoor
Championships in the upcoming weeks.

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