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Tuesday, April 30, 1996

Battered Bruins see another fall in win at Cal-Nevada meet

By Scott Yamaguchi

Daily Bruin Staff

The UCLA women's track and field team may have run away with its third consecutive team title in last weekend's California-Nevada State Championships, but the Bruins failed to meet the most important goal set by head coach Jeanette Bolden.

With the NCAA outdoor championships looming just around the corner, Bolden made it clear that her top priority heading into the competition was to maintain the health of her team. The Bruins, whose roster was already depleted with the losses of Cicely Scott, Camille Noel and Erin Blunt, could ill-afford another injury among their corps of sprinters.

But after winning her qualifying heat in the 100-meter hurdles Saturday with an NCAA provisional qualifying 13.73, sophomore Bisa Grant aggravated a nagging hamstring injury while warming up for her preliminary heat of the 100-meters and was unable to compete.

"Hopefully, it was just a cramp," Bolden said. "We don't think it's a strain, but even so, leaving this meet my goal wasn't 100 percent accomplished."

* * *

Even in the absence of any formidable competition, senior shot putter Valeyta Althouse continues to post strong marks.

Althouse, who was named by Track and Field News as its 1996 NCAA Indoor Female Athlete of the Year after winning the national title and setting the collegiate record, threw 59-feet, 4 3/4-inches at the State Championships.

Her closest competitor, this time teammate Nada Kawar, was more than seven feet behind, and such margins of victory should be commonplace for Althouse until she gets to the Olympic trials in June.

Brigham Young's Amy Christiansen, who poses the most realistic threat to upset Althouse in the NCAA outdoor meet, has an outdoor season best of 55-3 1/2.

"Valeyta had an excellent performance at the State Championships," Bolden said. "It's great to see a senior getting good marks on such a consistent basis."

* * *

Andrea Anderson fell from her position atop the Pacific 10 Conference rankings in the 100 and 200, edged by California's Latasha Gilliam on Sunday.

Anderson will face the Pac-10's No. 3 qualifier, Torri Edwards, Saturday when the Bruins host USC and BYU in a triangular meet at Drake Stadium. Edwards, a Trojan, clocked an 11.68 last month.

Then, on May 18 and 19, Anderson will meet both Gilliam and Edwards when UCLA hosts the conference championships.

"Andrea had a stiff battle in the 100 and the 200 last weekend," Bolden said. "I'm pleased with her races, but I'm not satisfied, and neither is she."

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