Thursday, May 30, 1996

UCLA scores first points after Bruin vaulter takes fifthBy Emmanuelle Ejercito

Daily Bruin Staff

UCLA pole vaulter Scott Slover scored the first points for the Bruins as the four-day NCAA Outdoor Championships commenced at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Slover cleared 17-feet, 10 1/2-inches earning him a fifth place finish and All-American honors. Slover's showing also puts four points on the board for the Bruins.

"He's had a bad leg, with his hamstring problem," UCLA assistant coach Art Venegas said. "He hasn't looked very fast, but he was masterful in the actual vaulting itself, the actual movement with the pole once he planted.

"He looked good and he scored pretty much where he is rated."

The 1996 NCAA pole vault champion was Tennessee's Lawrence Johnson. The American record holder set a new NCAA Championships mark, clearing 19-1.

But the pole vault final was not the only event for UCLA on Wednesday.

In the semifinals of the 400-meter relay, the UCLA team composed of Erik Allen, Ato Boldon, Gentry Bradley and Akil Davis finished third in the opening heat with a time of 39.68 seconds, fast enough to join the field in Friday's final.

Bradley performed double duty running in the 200-meter trials as well. Bradley finished first in his heat with a personal record 20.54. This is the second meet in a row where Bradley surpassed his previous best. The UCLA senior continues into the semifinals on Friday after recording the third fastest time in qualifying.

"We got a wonderful race out of Bradley," Venegas said. "The P.R. was amazing in this weather and his first running event in this meet."

Although there are no finals being contested today, Boldon and Mebrahtom Keflezighi will run in qualifying heats.

Boldon will run in first round qualifying for the 100-meter dash at 6:20 p.m. Boldon's 9.93 is the fastest collegiate 100 meters this season.

Later in the evening, Keflezighi will compete in the semifinals of the 5,000 meters. Going into the NCAA's, Keflezighi holds the fourth best time in the nation.

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UCLA head coach Bob Larsen and senior Mike Terry were garnished with accolades Wednesday night by the NCAA.

Larsen was named the NCAA District VIII Coach of the Year. The UCLA coach earned the nod from his peers after leading the Bruins to a perfect 10-0 dual record and their fifth straight Pacific 10 Conference title.

Meanwhile, Terry who had his best meet two weeks ago at the Pac-10 Championships, was named a District VIII GTE/Co-SIDA Academic All-American. Terry is a business-economics major with a 3.728 GPA.

In the semifinals of the 400-meter relay, the UCLA team ... finished third in the opening heat ... fast enough to join the field in Friday's final.SUSIE CHU/Daily Bruin

Scott Slover overcame a hamstring problem earn four points