Trojans Race Into the Lead

EUGENE, Ore. — USC’s Brigita Langerholc didn’t handle the role of favorite too well at her last NCAA track and field championships.

A year ago at Durham, N.C., the 800-meter runner was expected to win and score big. But in 90-degree heat and high humidity, Langerholc finished eighth, costing the Trojans a chance at their first women’s title.

Twelve months have made a difference.

In her final try, Langerholc erased that disappointment Friday night with a dominating performance, winning the 800 to lead a 34-point bonanza for the Trojans on the third day of the NCAA meet at Oregon’s Hayward Field.

The 34 points gave the Trojans 40 overall, moving them into into the lead. UCLA is second with 27.

The Trojans expected to do well but they didn’t count on freshman Inga Stasiulionyte winning the javelin throw and Tatyana Obukhova placing third in the triple jump. USC also gained eight points in the 400-meter relay as it held off South Carolina for second place.

“It just shows my staff has done a good job,” USC Coach Ron Allice said. “Our sprint relay, Natasha Neal came through on the third leg. I don’t think anyone had [Tatyana] third and she had the best meet out of all of them. All of her jumps were over thirteen meters.

“If we do what we’re capable of, we have a chance at winning.”

Stasiulionyte won with a throw of 172 feet, four inches.

After last year’s disaster, Langerholc has been on a tear. She finished fourth for Slovenia in the Sydney Olympics and recently won her third Pacific 10 Conference championship.

On a cool, brisk evening, she opted to stay behind Texas El Paso’s Svetlana Badrankova until the final 200 meters. The senior then charged ahead to win in a collegiate season-best 2:01.61.

“My intention was to lead this race [from the beginning], but I saw how the winds had changed,” Langerholc said. “I just wanted to try to stay in the front. Svetlana made my work easier. I just followed her.”

USC distance coach Tom Walsh said Langerholc wanted to redeem herself.

“For about two weeks, she considered not trying out for her country’s Olympic team,” Walsh said. “She felt she let the team down and I tried to get her to focus on the positives. I think going through that has helped in a lot of ways.”

UCLA’s Shakedia Jones ran 11.49 into a stiff headwind to win her heat in the 100 semifinals, setting up a showdown today with USC’s Angela Williams. Williams ran 11.19 to win her heat.

Heptathlete Michelle Perry pulled into second place after four events as she had the best times in the 200 meters and 100 hurdles. But the Bruins were hurt by defending pole vault champion Tracy O’Hara’s tie for second.

UCLA Coach Jeanette Bolden remained optimistic but conceded that the Trojans have an advantage heading into the final day.

“I knew today was going to be big for them,” Bolden said. “I really didn’t expect their triple jumper to do as well as she did.”

In the men’s competition, Oregon holds a 2 1/2-point advantage over Baylor, but Texas Christian became the favorite by winning the 400 relay and pushing three sprinters into the 100 final.

Scott Moser of UCLA threw 197-4 to place third in the discus. Texas A&M;’s Tolga Koseoglu won at 204-10.

USC sophomore Ryan Wilson was a surprising qualifier for the 110 high hurdles final after finishing second in his heat with a time of 13.81.