COURTNEY STEWART/Daily Bruin Sophomore high jumper
Julie Stevenson hurls herself over the bar during
a triangular meet at Drake Stadium, Saturday. 1. UCLA 169
2. CSUN 117 3. BYU 101
By Jeff Eisenberg
Daily Bruin Contributor
Competing in the long jump has been a constant struggle for UCLA
senior Bunmi Ogunleye, and in some ways, her performance this
weekend was no exception. Nonetheless, after fouls in each of her
first four attempts, the senior displayed tremendous composure,
earning first place in the event with a 20-foot-6 1/2-inch effort
in her fifth, and final jump.
That mark set a personal record for Ogunleye, and helped propel
third ranked UCLA to victories in both dual and triangular scoring
against Cal State Northridge and No. 6 BYU at Drake Stadium on
Saturday.
“I have been struggling with the long jump since I have
been here,” said Ogunleye, an All-American sprinter and
member of both of UCLA’s winning relay teams. “I am a
lot stronger and faster now. It feels real good to finally get
one.”
Ogunleye was one of 11 individual event winners for the Bruins
on Saturday, including sprinter Monique Henderson and distance
runner Tiffany Burgess.
A true freshman, Henderson won the 400m with a mark of 52.8
seconds, an NCAA provisional qualifier. Like Ogunleye, she also ran
on both of the Bruins’ victorious relay teams, anchoring the
4x100m.
Burgess won the 800m with a time of 2:06.22, a season best and
NCAA provisional qualifier.
With the victory, the Bruins improved to 4-0 overall this season
in outdoor dual competition. In Jeanette Bolden’s nine
seasons as UCLA head coach, the team’s dual meet record is an
unbeaten 67-0.
The Bruins will hit the road until May 4, when they host No. 1
USC in a match up that could determine the favorite for the NCAA
Outdoor Championships in June.
If Saturday’s performance is any indication, UCLA will be
more than ready to defend its home soil.