Bruins want strong showing this weekend

Published: Friday, February 27, 1998

Friday, February 27, 1998

TRACK: Teams attempt to qualify for NCAAs during upcoming meets

By Alvin Cadman and Donald Morrison

Daily Bruin Contributors

The biggest little city in the world awaits the men's and women's track teams today. Gambling will not be on team's agenda in Reno, NV at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Indoor Championships, but for many members, qualifying for the NCAA Championships will be.

"Basically, what we're trying to do is give everyone experience to do well and grow," UCLA head coach Bob Larsen said.

Individual athletes will strive to win their respective events at the MPSF Championships in preparation for the outdoor season.

Jim McElroy and Damian Allen will compete in the 55-meter and 200-meter dash. McElroy and Allen are one-hundredth of a second off from an automatic qualifying mark for the 55-meter dash.

Brandon Thomas will also run in the 55-meter dash and freshman Bryan Harrison will make his collegiate debut, running in the 200. Brian Fell, a hurdler, will compete in the 400.

Scott Slover and Wade Tift will go with assistant coach Art Venegas to Atlanta, GA to compete in the U.S. National Indoor Championships. Slover tops the collegiate ranks, along with Jacob Davis of Texas, in the pole vault, with a mark of 18 feet-2 1/2 inches. Tift will compete in the shot put and try to improve his seasonal best mark of 61 1/4.

As the end of the indoor track season looms over the horizon, the UCLA women's track and field team have already begun their preparation for the outdoor season that begins March 7 at Drake Stadium.

They won't be able to look too far ahead, however, because of their competition they must face this weekend at the USA Indoor Championships in Atlanta and the MPSF Indoors.

At the USA Championships, held at the Georgia Dome, three of UCLA's best will compete against top-level competition from throughout the country. Senior Rachelle Noble, UCLA's most versatile thrower, is currently ranked 7th in the United States in the hammer throw and 16th in the shot put.

Sophomore Seilala Sua is currently ranked 6th in the shot put, and has already earned an automatic berth to the NCAA Indoor Championships, but will be trying to earn a automatic berth in the hammer throw, alongside UCLA teammate Rachelle Noble.

Freshman Erica Hoernig will also compete this weekend in the women's pole vault at the USA Indoor Championships.

At the MPSF Championships in Reno, the UCLA women will attempt to make a last effort to qualify for the NCAA Indoors. Two important athletes to watch for will be sophomore Deana Simmons and freshman Shakedia Jones.

Simmons, after an outstanding freshman campaign, is ranked 4th in the nation this week in the triple jump.

Jones, a 5-foot-4-inch freshman from Illinois, has made an immediate impact in the sprints. Her provisional qualifying time of 6.84 seconds in the 55 meters is one-hundredth of a second from an automatic berth to the NCAA Indoor Championships.

With Jones and Simmons leading the Bruin women in Reno and with those competing in Atlanta, this weekend should give a clear indication of the type of championship caliber team that the UCLA women will showcase during the upcoming outdoor season.