The men’s and women’s track teams competed in just their second outdoor meet this season, taking part in the Cal State Northridge Invitational over the weekend.
Both squads were carrying incomplete teams, though the athletes who were present posted impressive marks. In the throws, sophomore John Caulfield – fresh off of his appearance at last weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships – won the discus event, improving upon his regional qualifying mark with a throw of 185-9. The next closest competitor was fellow Bruin Jason Rider, who took second with a mark of 175-5.
Competing for the first time outdoors after recovering from a high ankle sprain, senior Jeremy Silverman placed fifth with a toss of 164-4.
On the track for the men, senior Martell Munguia led a Bruin one-two-three finish in the 1500 meter race, with a time of 3:51.35. Munguia was followed by teammates Mickey Corbin and Mike Haddan.
For the women’s team, Dawn Harper followed up her All-American performance last weekend in the hurdles, with a solid victory in the 100-meter dash. The senior was the only sprinter to break twelve seconds, posting a time of 11.89.
Junior Ashley Caldwell, running in her first 800 meter event of the outdoor season, won her signature event easily in 2:11.82. Senior Leslie Barrie also recorded a win for the Bruins as she crossed the line in first place in the 1500 meter contest with a lifetime best time of 4:29.31.
The Bruins also won both horizontal jumping events, with freshman Rhonda Watkins leaping to a regional qualifying score of 20-4.25 in the long jump in her first meet as a Bruin.
In the triple jump, sophomore transfer Nicole Duhart took the event with a jump of 40-7.50, also a regional qualifying mark.
JOHNSON HONORED: UCLA senior pole vaulter Chelsea Johnson was named NCAA Indoor Athlete of the Year after winning the individual NCAA title in the pole vault last weekend in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
“This definitely comes as a big surprise for me,” Johnson said. “I feel really honored because there were so many great athletes, and so many great performances this year.”
Johnson won the indoor crown last weekend with a jump of 14-9, but did not reach her all-time record. Johnson set that record when she won the NCAA outdoor pole vault title in 2004 with an NCAA-record jump of 15-0.
She had three attempts at a new collegiate indoor record of 15-1, but did not clear the height. Nonetheless, Johnson remains excited about the outdoor season.
“It is really exciting, and (the award) is only going to give me even more momentum,” Johnson said.
At the MPSF Championships, Johnson won with a mark of 14-5.25.
Johnson opened her outdoor season two weeks ago with a mark of 14-3.25.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: The track team will have a week off for final exams before returning to competition in the Stanford Invitational from March 31 to April 1. Part of the team will also travel to the Cal/Nevada Championships in Fresno.