UCLA readies for the postseason with the Pac-12 Championships.
Photo by: Ricky Bassman
UCLA Prepares for Pac-12 Championships
October 26, 2016 | Cross Country
LOS ANGELES - The UCLA cross country team will head to Tucson, Ariz. for the Pac-12 Championships, hosted by the University of Arizona. The meet is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 28 and will be held at the Randolph North Golf Course.
ย
"Both teams are obviously excited to race," UCLA cross country coach Forest Braden said. "We have some really good competitors on both the men's and women's team and I know they are ready to get out there and race against some of the best in the country."
ย
The Pac-12 Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks on a tape-delayed basis. The first airing is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 31st at 6 p.m. PDT.
ย
"We may have the youngest team in the Pac-12 on the women's side," Braden said. "We are racing three true freshmen, one redshirt freshman, three sophomores and three juniors and do not have a lot of Pac-12 experience. These girls enjoy competing and haven't shown a lot of fear in their approach to racing so far this year. I love that attitude."
ย
The Pac-12 has been well-represented in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) rankings all season. The Pac-12 has a national-best in the latest rankings with seven women's teams and six men's teams ranked in the top 30 heading into the championship meet.
ย
"Our men are deeper than we have ever been," Braden explained. "We have guys sitting at home that could crack our top seven or even sneak into the scoring five on a good day. Knowing we have our 8-10 guys pushing makes a big difference and helps everyone run more relaxed and confident. I am really proud of the layman's approach to training this squad exhibits. They just go to work every day, take care of what they need to take care of, and then clock out. It is very methodical, very patient and very confident and it has worked well so far for these guys."
ย
The UCLA men made a big jump in the polling, going from No. 27 to No. 10 this week with 246 points. This past weekend the Bruins proved themselves with the men's team placing sixth and the women's team finishing 13th at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, a meet that features some of the top teams in the nation.
ย
Senior Ferdinand Edman has paced the men on the big stage all season long. In his two races this season against stiff competition, Edman placed eighth at the Griak Invitational and then most recently was 10th at the Nuttycombe. Freshman Claire Markey led the women in Wisconsin by placing 25th overall.
ย
"Ferdinand has been racing on a different level all year and he really doesn't need to do anything special out there on Friday," said Braden. "He is obviously confident and calm about competing and that mentality carries over to the rest of team."
ย
Last season the men placed fifth and the women finished ninth overall at the Pac-12 Championships in Colfax, Wash. Carolina Johnson led the women's team with her ninth place finish overall with a time of 20:17.5 and was the top freshman finisher in the field, leading to Pac-12 Freshman of the Year accolades.
ย
The NCAA Regional Championships will be Friday, Nov. 11. The West Regional (hosted by Sacramento State) will be held in Sacramento. The NCAA National Championships are being held in Terre Haute, Ind. (hosted by Indiana State) on Saturday, Nov. 19.
ย
ย
ย
"Both teams are obviously excited to race," UCLA cross country coach Forest Braden said. "We have some really good competitors on both the men's and women's team and I know they are ready to get out there and race against some of the best in the country."
ย
The Pac-12 Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks on a tape-delayed basis. The first airing is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 31st at 6 p.m. PDT.
ย
"We may have the youngest team in the Pac-12 on the women's side," Braden said. "We are racing three true freshmen, one redshirt freshman, three sophomores and three juniors and do not have a lot of Pac-12 experience. These girls enjoy competing and haven't shown a lot of fear in their approach to racing so far this year. I love that attitude."
ย
The Pac-12 has been well-represented in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) rankings all season. The Pac-12 has a national-best in the latest rankings with seven women's teams and six men's teams ranked in the top 30 heading into the championship meet.
ย
"Our men are deeper than we have ever been," Braden explained. "We have guys sitting at home that could crack our top seven or even sneak into the scoring five on a good day. Knowing we have our 8-10 guys pushing makes a big difference and helps everyone run more relaxed and confident. I am really proud of the layman's approach to training this squad exhibits. They just go to work every day, take care of what they need to take care of, and then clock out. It is very methodical, very patient and very confident and it has worked well so far for these guys."
ย
The UCLA men made a big jump in the polling, going from No. 27 to No. 10 this week with 246 points. This past weekend the Bruins proved themselves with the men's team placing sixth and the women's team finishing 13th at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, a meet that features some of the top teams in the nation.
ย
Senior Ferdinand Edman has paced the men on the big stage all season long. In his two races this season against stiff competition, Edman placed eighth at the Griak Invitational and then most recently was 10th at the Nuttycombe. Freshman Claire Markey led the women in Wisconsin by placing 25th overall.
ย
"Ferdinand has been racing on a different level all year and he really doesn't need to do anything special out there on Friday," said Braden. "He is obviously confident and calm about competing and that mentality carries over to the rest of team."
ย
Last season the men placed fifth and the women finished ninth overall at the Pac-12 Championships in Colfax, Wash. Carolina Johnson led the women's team with her ninth place finish overall with a time of 20:17.5 and was the top freshman finisher in the field, leading to Pac-12 Freshman of the Year accolades.
ย
The NCAA Regional Championships will be Friday, Nov. 11. The West Regional (hosted by Sacramento State) will be held in Sacramento. The NCAA National Championships are being held in Terre Haute, Ind. (hosted by Indiana State) on Saturday, Nov. 19.
ย
ย
Players Mentioned
Sight and Sounds: Cross Country
Friday, September 07
UCLA Bruin App
Wednesday, August 29
Morrison Plaza Ceremony
Friday, April 21
XC NCAA 2016 Preview
Thursday, November 17