UCLA coach Jeanette Bolden has been named as the United States women’s head coach for the 2008 Olympic Games. Bolden, the track coach of the Bruin women, will spend next summer in Beijing, China leading a very potent United States track squad against the world’s best.

“It is indeed an honor to be chosen among your peers to help coach the Olympic Games and I am just very proud and happy,” Bolden said. “It’s certainly a great honor.”

Bolden, an alumna of UCLA, is no stranger to Olympic competition, having won gold in 1984 with the United States 4x100 relay team while also placing fourth in the 100m. As a coach, Bolden has also served as an assistant coach in 1998 for the United States at the World Championships.

As the Olympics take place in the summer, Bolden, who has won three national championships during her 14-year tenure in Westwood, believes that her duties in China will have a minimal impact on her duties as coach at UCLA.

“I would say that 80 percent of my duties (as the United States head coach) are pretty much done in the summertime,” Bolden said. “It will take a little organization on my part to make sure that I fulfill my recruiting responsibilities and also taking care of the incoming freshmen. I will be relying a lot on my assistants.”

Being in such a visible position could also be fruitful in terms of recruiting, as high school track athletes around the nation will see Bolden as the top coach for the United States.

“I certainly hope (being named head United States coach) helps,” Bolden said. “It certainly can’t hurt.”

UCLA IN ACTION: Over the weekend, a small band of Bruins took part in the Northridge Invitational to continue outdoor competition. Leading the way was senior Jacqueline Nguyen who won the pole vault with a season best and regional qualifying leap of 13-3.50.

Also in the field, senior Kamaiya Warren won the shot put with a toss of 50-6.75 feet to win her event.

Also winners for the Bruins were the 4x800m (8:55.77) and sprint medley (1:46.05) teams.

BRUIN MEN: The UCLA men had a trio of event winners over the weekend as they were also present at the Northridge Invitational.

On the track, junior Austin Ramos led a Bruin sweep of the 1500m as he came in at 3:50.56 and was followed by teammates Alex Crabill, Marco Anzures and Kevin Sullivan. In the high jump, sophomore Luke Barr captured first as he soared to a height of 6-10.75, matching his season best. Senior Mike Landers won the pole vault, jumping 17-0.75. The two teams will return to the track with bigger squads in two weeks at both the Stanford Invitational and the Cal/Nevada Championships.