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UCLA sophomore distance runner Alejandra Barrientos is among the favorites to win the 1500-meter

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W. track: Bruins place weight on 1500m race

Jeff Eisenberg
Published: Friday, April 30, 2004

Don’t let USC coach Ron Allice fool you. UCLA women’s track and field certainly isn’t going to let him.

In spite of Allice’s hour-long doomsday prophecy of a press conference before this weekend’s crosstown dual meet, the No. 2 Bruins are preparing as if the meet could be decided by the outcome of the final events.

That’s why, if the score is close, each member of UCLA’s talented middle distance corps is prepared to pull double duty and run the Bruins to victory in the 1500-meter, the second-to-last event of the day.

“We’re going to bring the house in that event,” distance coach Eric Peterson said. “That means every single athlete who is eligible will be ready.”

UCLA, winners of 11 consecutive crosstown dual meets, defeated its rivals 104-59 a year ago. Should this year’s finish be a bit tighter, the Bruins are targeting the 1500 as the event in which they might be able to put the meet away.

Redshirt sophomore Alejandra Barrientos is the lone UCLA runner who will be in the 1500 field regardless of the score. Jenna Timinsky (800m), Ashley Caldwell (800m), and Melissa McBain (5-kilometer) will be among the most likely candidates to double if Peterson chooses.

“I’ll leave that in Eric (Peterson’s) hands,” McBain said. “But I really enjoy the 1500. I would jump at the opportunity to do that.”

No. 16 USC will counter with Ukrainian Iryna Vashchuk, who has the second-fastest Pac-10 1500m time behind only Barrientos.

While the Trojans boast their strongest distance unit in years, Allice still was not pleased that the 1500m would be among the last events contested. Traditionally in dual meets, the 5000m is the final race, and Allice felt perhaps the UCLA staff might have made the schedule with its middle-distance strength in mind.

“It gives him something to complain about,” said Peterson, who engaged in a heated argument with Allice during the dual meet last year over the schedule of events.

“What’s silly about it is they’ve got one of the best 1500m runners in the conference in Vashchuk. They’ll have the opportunity to triple her if they want.”

The Bruins could have an opportunity to clinch the victory before the 1500m if things break their way. UCLA will be heavily favored in the pole vault and the high jump, while USC seems to have the advantage in the javelin and the 100m.

Where the meet could swing in UCLA’s favor is in the horizontal jumps. If either Renee Williams or Candice Baucham are able to top USC’s Michelle Sanford in the long jump and triple jump, the Bruins might be able to open up a decisive lead.

UCLA’s Monique Henderson and Sheena Johnson will run in four events apiece for the Bruins, who will be looking to improve upon head coach Jeanette Bolden’s unblemished dual meet record of 69-0.

It will also be a chance for the squad’s seniors to end their collegiate careers without losing to the Trojans.

“You really wouldn’t want it any other way,” said McBain, herself a senior.