Thursday, March 19, 1998
UCLA on track for 51 straight dual victories
MEET: Bruins heavily favored to win at home vs. Cal, Irvine, Air Force
By Donald Morrison
Daily Bruin Contributor
The UCLA men's track and field team will attempt to extend its dual-meet winning streak to 51 straight Saturday afternoon. The Bruins will host Pac-10 rival Cal, UC Irvine and the Air Force Academy at Drake Stadium.
Head coach Bob Larsen, who owns a dual-meet record of 105-2-1 over 19 years, says UCLA has developed a healthy, competitive rivalry with California.
"It's a meaningful competition," Larsen said. "Cal has always had a high-level track program. We've been successful in this series lately, but there has been several close competitions."
UCLA is expected to dominate the quad meet, with most of its top athletes competing.
The only Bruins that are listed as doubtful for Saturday's meet are Michael Granville and Mebrahtom Keflezighi.
Granville will sit out and rest a sore hamstring that is still bothering him. Keflezighi could be available for the 5,000 meters, but will likely rest his sore left leg after racing in two events at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
A slew of sprinters look to earn recognition from Cal and make names for themselves before the Pac-10 Championships.
Jim McElroy, who shredded the Golden Bear defense in football, will run both the 100 and 200-meter dashes as well as the 4 by 100-meter relay.
Bryan Harrison and Brandon Thomas will also run both the 100 and 200-meters.
Damian Allen will compete in the 4 by 100-meter relay and the 200-meters, while Akil Davis will compete in the 100-meters and the relay.
Ibrahim Hassan will run the 400 meters. Hassan, who sat out most of last year due to injury, owns a lifetime best of 45.13 seconds.
Looking to do some damage out on the field will be Josh Johnson in the javelin throw. Johnson set a lifetime best throw of 236 feet, 10 inches two weeks ago, and will try to break that mark on Saturday.
Rich Pitchford and Lester DaRaad will compete in the high jump, and Lawrence Owusu will long jump for UCLA.
Mel Moultry and Scot Slover, after competing at the NCAA Indoor meet, will triple jump and pole vault, respectively.
Luke Sullivan and Wade Tift look to post up solid marks in the hammer throw. Tift will also compete in the shot put with Travis Haynes and Sullivan will compete with Haynes in the discus.
UCLA could see football players Ed Stansbury and Tony White for the first time this season in the discus, shot put and javelin throw.
Jess Strutzel will run the 800 meters and Mark Hauser will run the 1,500 meters. Distance runners Devin Elizondo, Matt Olin and Kevin Bowes will all race the 3,000 meter steeple chase and Will Bernaldo and Dan Brecht will run the 5,000 meters.
Brian Fell and Gerimi Burleigh look to set personal bests in the 400 meter and 110 meter hurdles, respectively.
"I think overall we're the stronger team," Larsen said. "But circumstances being as they are with us resting some people and moving people around a bit, it should be a competitive meet."
DERRICK KUDO
The Bruins hope to vault over their competition this weekend.