Meets have diverse results for teams

By J.P. Hoornstra
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

The tales of two track meets, in two different cities, reflect
the best of times for some and the worst of times for others on the
UCLA track team.

In Flagstaff, Ariz., the men’s squad took first place in
three individual events at the Mountain T’s Invitational,
while challenging for titles in many more. And even without a full
squad, the women’s team dominated the field in the shot put
and weight throw, with three athletes placing in the top five in
each event.

Meanwhile, in Lincoln, Neb., the other half of the women’s
split squad finished last in the six-team field. Tiffany
Burgess’ second-place time of 2:09:49 in the 800-meter run
was the team’s only provisional qualifying mark at the
meet.

First, the best of times:

Junior Scott Wiegand recorded a personal indoor best throw of 64
7-3/4 in the shot put. It improved upon his automatic qualifying
mark and personal best from last week by over one foot, and placed
him ninth on the Bruins’ all-time chart.

“He’s improved close to five feet in one
year,” men’s head coach Art Venegas said. “Most
guys would love to have that in two or three years.”

What has allowed Wiegand to improve so quickly?

“Total dedication. He just wants it in the worst
way,” Venegas said. “He’s got wonderful teammates
““ he knows that if he falls asleep they’ll take him
down in a second.”

One of those teammates, senior Scott Moser, placed second in the
shot put at 61-5 and won the 35-pound weight throw (68-2 1/4). Both
were provisional qualifying marks.

With a jump of 6-11, high jumper Kevin Weaver nabbed the
individual title in the event. At just the second indoor meet of
his life, the junior jumped within one inch of his personal
record.

“I like the indoors, it’s a lot of fun,” he
said. “I just felt fluid going through every jump.”

Jumper Juane Armon displayed an impressive follow-up to his
performance at the University of Washington Quad Classic (first
place long jump, second place triple jump) ““ finishing third
in the long jump and second in the triple at Flagstaff, Armon is
making progress towards the national indoor finals.

“The competition these past two weekends has been really
good, and it’s just made me step up my game that much
more,” he said.

Now, onto the worst of times:

“It was pretty pitiful,” said thrower Chaniqua Ross
of her performance in Flagstaff.

After finishing third last week in Washington with a shot put of
52-4 1/2, Ross topped out at 49-3 1/2, good enough for fourth
place.

Although her mark tied for the highest-ranking collegian in the
pole vault, senior Tracy O’Hara also witnessed a drop-off
from last week. Her first-place mark of 14-3 1/2 in Washington was
within inches of her personal record, but she finished sixth
overall Saturday at 12-11 1/2.

Both men’s and women’s squads will have a bye week
this weekend before the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
championships in Flagstaff Feb. 22-23.