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Thursday, March 19, 1998

Running toward tests, on and off the field

TRACK: With finals week on horizon, teams ready for tough outdoor season

By Alvin Cadman

Daily Bruin Contributor

With finals week looming in the near future and students hastily studying for exams before the much-needed spring break, the UCLA women's track and field team will host a quadrangular meet at Drake Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

After confronting challenging competition for several members at the 1998 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis last weekend, the Bruin women look forward to a successful outdoor season and an opportunity to challenge Texas and Louisiana State University for the NCAA outdoor crown.

This weekend, the Bruins host the second of four home meets on the outdoor schedule and get their first taste of Pac-10 competition this year. The California Golden Bears, along with the Fighting Falcons of Air Force and the Anteaters of UC Irvine, will make their way to Drake Stadium in hopes of breaking Coach Jeanette Bolden's unbeaten four-year dual meet mark of 35-0. This record has earned the UCLA women the honor of being the top dual meet team in the nation three years in a row.

Deana Simmons will try to repeat similar success that she had last year against Berkeley. The sophomore from Illinois jumped 19-10 1/4 last year against the Golden Bears, and earned herself a spot at No. 10 on UCLA's all-time women's best in the long jump. Simmons will also compete in the women's triple jump on Saturday.

The throwing corps of seniors Nada Kawar and Rachelle Noble, and sophomore Seilala Sua, hope to do well after good showings at the 1998 NCAA Indoors. Kawar and Sua threw well in the women's shot put at the most important meet of the early track season, and hope to improve upon the work ethic that earned them All-American status last year. Noble's performance in the 20-pound weight throw shows her ability to compete at the highest level in multiple events. Her success has earned her the consideration of being UCLA's most versatile thrower.

With Andrea Anderson leading the sprinters in the 200 and 400 meters, and Joanna Hayes leading the hurdle crew in the 100 and 400 meter hurdles, the Bruin women hope to repeat their team success against their opponents this weekend. UCLA defeated Berkeley and UC Irvine last season in dual competition 83-61 and 98-32, respectively.

UCLA hopes to prepare themselves for a tough schedule ahead as they will have to go to work during the spring break. After their meet this weekend at Drake Stadium, the Bruin women go on the road to the prestigious Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto. The following weekend will feature a familiar nemesis in the 1998 NCAA Indoor Track and Field team champion Texas Longhorns at the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas.