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2009 Women's Track & Field Outlook
Jan. 7, 2009
The Bruin women struggled in 2008 after injuries and illness hit the team, but Jeanette Bolden has reloaded with some stellar recruits and healthy returning athletes and vows to make the 2009 season one in which her team returns to the top-15 or top-10 at the NCAA Championships. "This year's team has a lot of depth across the board," said Bolden. "We have brought in athletes for all event groups and feel like we can get back into the top-10 nationally with this squad. We want to be in the top-3 at conference and top-10 at NCAAs. If we do that, we will be back on track.
Sprints
Leading the way is senior co-captain Nicole Leach, the 2007 NCAA champion in the 400m hurdles and fi ve-time All-American who is ready to make her fi nal campaign at UCLA one for the record books. Fellow senior Krystin Lacy will be the utility athlete for this group as she will race in the 100m, 200m, 400m and relays. Senior Chanelle Curry and sophomores Joy Eaton and Ashlea McLaughlin will add depth in the sprint events.
Newcomer Ryann Krais will look to continue the success she had in the intermediates in high school and will defi nitely be competitive at a natonal level after having competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials last July. Freshmen Nijah Nelms, RoNecia Nash and Yasmin Woodruff will look to make an immediate impact in the short sprints, while Nash will look to add depth to the 100m hurdles where sophomore Lindsay Rowe leads the way after a strong freshman season in which she competed at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Tierra Williams-Ward also returns to add depth to the short hurdles.
"I think the youth in this group will really surprise a lot of people this year," noted Bolden. "We have great depth and will see a lot of competition for spots on our relays."
Distance
Junior Krishna Curry highlights the distance group after a banner sophomore campaign in which she moved into the UCLA top-10 in the 800m and competing at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and U.S. Olympic Trials. Senior Lauren Jirges and redshirt junior Ciara Viehweg will also look to lead this group.
Newcomers Katja Goldring, Camilla Dencer and Shelby Buckley will make an immediate impact on the squad as all three bring talent in middle to long distance events. Goldring will lead the 5000m/10,000m runners, while Dencer and Buckley will look to support Curry in the shorter distance events.
"Overall, I feel that our team is getting back to the depth that we used to have," said Bolden. "We're very strong now in our distance area, with Krishna leading the way. We have some great recruits like Camilla, Shelby and Katja. We are look forward to a good showing from this group."
Jumps
Two-time NCAA champion and 2008 Beijing Olympian Rhonda Watkins
returns for her fi nal season at UCLA and will look to again battle for
the NCAA title in the long jump. After taking last season off in the high
jump, she will return to compete in that event in 2009. Regional qualifier Danielle Watson also returns to back up Watkins in the long jump.
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Ke'Nyia Richardson, the U.S. prep record holder in the triple jump, was sidelined much of the 2008 season with an injury, but is healthy and ready to show why she was one of the top jumpers in the country two years ago.
Camilla Dencer will compete in the high jump as well as the 800m as she comes to UCLA with solid marks in the event.
"Although this group is smaller then in years past, the level of talent is exceptional," noted Bolden. "Rhonda is healthy after struggling with injuries in 2008 and is ready for a big senior year. We're also happy to see Ke'Nyia healthy again because we know she will defi nitely give this team a boost. Danielle has come into her own in the long jump and it's great to see her progressing technically. Camilla is not only an 800m runner but a fi ne high jumper and we're excited to see what she can do for this team."
Pole Vault
The Bruin vaulters continue to excel on the national level and boast one 14-footer and four 13-footers in this years group. NCAA Indoor All- American Tori Anthony leads the way after missing more then a month of the 2008 season due to mononucleosis. Katy Viuf and Tori Peña return after banner sophomore campaigns in which both cleared 13-feet and competed at the NCAA Outdoor meet. Megan Jamerson, also a 13- footer, returns for her fi nal campaign at UCLA, while Lindsay Regan is back in action after redshirting the 2008 season to rehab a back injury. "Our vault group is always a highlight for our team," remarked Bolden. "There is so much talent and depth within this group, and I know many of these ladies will be at the National meet."
Throws
Junior Tara Ross leads the way after a successful 2008 season in which she moved into the UCLA all-time top-10 in the javelin. Newcomers Brittany Borman and Jade Niemeyer will look to add immediate relief in the throwing events. Borman comes to UCLA with impressive marks in the shot put, discus and javelin, while Niemeyer, a transfer from BYU, will look to lead the way in the hammer. Returning sophomores Alexa Berg and Catherine White will continue to add depth in the throws. Hillary Werth will also add depth in the javelin.
"We are getting the depth that we had before in the throws," said Bolden. "We've been lacking a little in this event area, but with Tara and the addition of Brittany and Jade, we will return to being competitive in the throws again."
Heptathlon
Heralded freshman recruit Ryann Krais, the top prep heptathlete in the U.S. last season, will look to make an immediate impact in the multievent group for the Bruins. Krais has impressive credentials and will compete for a spot at Nationals. Hillary Werth also returns to compete in the heptathlon after struggling with injuries her fi rst few seasons at UCLA.
"We are Looking to have a really good showing in the hepathlon with Hillary coming back and the edition of Ryann," said Bolden. "Ryann could compete for a spot at indoor and outdoor Nationals in just her fi rst season and we know Hillary is ready to make an impact in the heptathlon."
