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Peterson UCLA cross country coach

Earlier this week, it looked as though there could be a dramatic facelift to the coaching staff of the men’s and women’s distance crews in the UCLA track and field program. Men’s and women’s cross country coach Eric Peterson was interviewing for the cross country and track and field distance coaching position at Stanford. Moreover, he was pegged as a finalist for the job. Simultaneously, two-time Olympian and former Bruin thrower Seilala Sua was recruited as the new women’s volunteer throws coach. She will be taking over a post that previously belonged to Art Venegas, who will continue to coach his multi-event athletes in throws. However, news came out later this week that Peterson will indeed by staying at UCLA, and only the women’s throwers will be forced to adapt to sudden changes with the hiring of a new coach. Peterson, on vacation for the past week, could not be reached for comment. It is unclear whether he was offered the coaching job and turned it down or whether Stanford chose another candidate for the position. Either way, Peterson will not be on his way to Palo Alto and the athletic department is spared the process of searching for a new coach. Peterson, an All-American distance runner with the University of Oregon in 1988, has been with the Bruins since 1993. He was named the women’s cross country coach one year following his arrival at UCLA. For the past six seasons, Peterson has also been the men’s cross country coach and a specialty coach for the men’s and women’s distance corps. Under Peterson in 2003, the UCLA women became the first cross country team in school history to automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships, placing second at the NCAA West Regional to gain the automatic berth. Peterson is a product of training and coaching with some of the top distance coaches in the world, including longtime Ducks coach and three time Olympian Bill Dellinger, as well as UCLA coach Bob Larsen, who coached the men’s distance runners at the 2004 Olympic Games. Sua, meanwhile, who is currently coached by Venegas, returns to UCLA after graduating in 2000. She competed in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and was the 2001 USA champion in both the shot put and discus, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since 1994. While at UCLA, Sua won six NCAA titles, including four consecutive discus throw titles.

MORE COACHING CHANGES: Another new addition to the UCLA track and field family is volunteer coach Scott Abbott, a distance runner and team captain for UCLA from 1998-2001. In 2000, as a junior, Abbott ran in every major meet but the NCAA West Regional, including season-best finishes of fifth at the Long Beach State Invite and sixth at the Fullerton Invite. He placed 47th at the Pac-10 Regionals and as a senior, Abbott ran personal bests of 15:05.93 in the 5000m and 31:47.85 in the 10,000m. Abbott will be coaching alongside Peterson in the distance program.