Bruins begin outdoor season with decisive victory
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 2, 2001 9:00 p.m.
UCLA 252 UCI 140.5 Azusa 105 CSULA 57
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By Christina Teller
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
As the season goes on, the meets matter more. That’s how
the UCLA women’s track and field team is approaching its
outdoor season. Coming off of the indoor national title win, the
women’s squad is easing into outdoor competition by resting
some athletes and giving others a chance to compete in events other
than their primary ones.
With two more outdoor meets under their belts since the end of
the quarter, including a win at home and a close loss on the road
at Cal, the Bruins are building toward nationals at the end of the
season ““ when it matters most.
“These meets for us were opportunities to move people
around,” womens’ Head Coach Jeanette Bolden said.
“We have to take some time off and heal bodies and minds.
We’re now energizing after spring break and getting ourselves
focused on meets ahead of us.”
On Saturday, UCLA hosted its opening home meet against UC
Irvine, Azusa Pacific and Cal State Los Angeles. The Bruins won the
meet hands down with 252 points. Second place UCI finished with
140.5 followed by Azusa Pacific (105) and CSU Los Angeles (57).
“The schools we were up against this weekend are not main
competitors at NCAAs, although we had some great competition in
individual events,” Bolden said. “Overall we knew we
were stronger. Winning was not as big a deal for us as good
individual performances were.”
In the quadrangular meet, some athletes got the opportunity to
compete in a variety of events instead of their primary ones.
Senior hurdler Michelle Perry, who won the 100-meter hurdles at
13.75 seconds, also took part in both the long jump and the
javelin. Perry finished second in the long jump (18-feet-7) and
sixth in the javelin (108-9). UCLA finished second through sixth in
that competition with freshman Karina Powell taking second
(127-11).
Senior thrower Christina Tolson, who won both of her usual
events, the shot (54-6 3/4) and hammer throw (203-10) also threw
the discus, something she had not competed in for five years. She
won by 12 feet at 145-4.
“Her intensity will come up in bigger meets later in the
season,” Throwing Coach Art Venegas said. “We try not
to put heat on elite kids early because there’s a lot of
pressure at the end.”
The pole vaulters had a strong weekend overall, with three
athletes jumping over 12 feet. Junior Tracy O’Hara led the
way with her first place mark of 13-5 1/2, followed by junior
Heather Sickler at 12-7 1/2 and senior Erika Hoernig at 12-0
1/2.
Junior Ysanne Williams notched an impressive performance in the
400m hurdles, a race that she had only competed in once before.
With her first place finish of 58.61, Williams has provisionally
qualified for nationals.
Strong performances also came from junior Darnesha Griffith, who
won both the high and triple jumps with marks of 5-10 and 38-10 1/2
respectively.
The middle distance runners had consistent top showings over the
weekend with sophomores Tiffany Burgess and Jessica Marr finishing
one-two in the 1500m at 4:38.07 and 4:40.38, respectively. In the
800m, senior Bridie Hatch took first (2:09.92) followed by Marr
(2:11.81) and Burgess (2:13.76).
On March 17 at Cal, the middle distance squad had strong
performances from Marr again, who won the 800m in 2:08.89 and
freshman Lena Nilsson, who won the 1500m in 4:29.29.
The Bruins notched first place-finishes in the pole vault from
Hoernig (11-11 3/4), sophomore Chaniqua Ross in the shot put (52-8
3/4), Tolson in the hammer throw (207-11) and both the 4 X 100m
(44.94) and 4x400m (3:39.53) relay teams.
The Bruins finished second in the meet with 200 points behind
first place Washington State (203). Cal and Washington also
competed.
“¢bull; “¢bull; “¢bull;
A group of Bruin throwers, both current and alumni, competed
over at the UC San Diego Throws Meet on March 30.
In the discus, Seilala Sua (’00) placed first with 215-4,
and now leads the world. Suzy Powell (’98) came in second
with 209-8. Ross finished seventh (173-11), sophomore Carrie Soong
finished 14th (154-10) and freshman Lara Saye took ninth
(168-11).
In the hammer, Soong took fifth (189-7), freshman Jessica Cosby
placed 12th (162-0). Cosby also took third in the shot at
50-11.
