Tough Meet, Hard Feelings

Track and field remains a sport built around individuals, but put those athletes on the same track in uniforms with UCLA and USC emblazoned on them and a dual meet often brings out the best -- and, occasionally, the worst -- in them.

On a day when up-and-coming stars Virginia Powell of USC and Monique Henderson of UCLA shone for their teams and Jon Rankin was the clutch performer in the Bruins’ tight victory in the men’s competition, the spirited rivalry was marred by heated post-meet histrionics Saturday at USC’s Loker Stadium.

As the meet drew to a conclusion, USC pulled out a victory in the men’s 1,600-meter relay as 2,235 cheered on a close, exciting race. Even though UCLA had clinched an 83-80 victory in the previous event, the 5,000 meters, it didn’t stop Bruin junior Craig Everhart from jawing with a group of USC athletes as he finished his anchor leg.

Many more athletes from both schools soon joined the fray, leading to pushing and shoving before order was restored. Art Venegas, the UCLA men’s coach, said such skirmishes have occurred before when the teams have met.

“Both parties have to be more cognizant of their action at the end of a close meet,” Venegas said. “The reality is emotions are really high. We really implore our athletes and staff to not throw fuel on the fire.”

But USC Coach Ron Allice said Everhart was “out of line” as he headed toward a group of Trojan athletes after he finished his race. Allice intimated that the sprinter played the role of instigator, saying, “You cannot put red in front of the bull.

“I let our kids know that this is not the place [for that],” he added.

The UCLA men clinched their fourth consecutive dual meet victory over USC and 26th in the last 27 years in the 5,000. With an 80-74 lead entering the race, USC needed Tomas Babiskiewiecz to finish second or better against a pack of UCLA runners to gain at least three points and let the 1,600 relay decide the meet.

But Austin Ramos, Erik Emilsson and Jon Rankin led a 1-2-3 UCLA sweep to foil the Trojans’ hopes of their second win since 1977. “I knew it was going to be close and [distance coach Eric Petersen] made sure we knew what we needed to do,” Ramos said.

For Rankin, a redshirt senior, it capped a big day in a breakout senior season after four mostly disappointing years. He won the 1,500 in a school-record 3 minutes 40.39 seconds, breaking a mark that had stood for 21 years, and added a victory in the 800.

At the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee meet April 9, he ran 3:57.89 in the mile, becoming the first Bruin since 1980 to break the four-minute barrier.

“I thank my teammates and coaches for staying with me for five years and allowing me the time to grow,” Rankin said. “I feel real strong this year.”

Henderson, an Olympic gold medalist as a member of the U.S. 1,600-meter relay team, highlighted an 85-78 victory for the Bruin women, their 13th consecutive in the series. The onetime San Diego high school phenom ran a nation-leading 50.91 to win the 400 and won the 200 in 22.86.

Powell continued to blossom as a future American star with victories in the 100-meter dash (11.15) and 100 hurdles (a school-record 12.74), a double that she may attempt at the NCAA outdoor championships in June. Last month, the junior won an NCAA indoor title in the 60-meter hurdles.

“My 100 [meter] time is looking good right now,” Powell said, thinking about the possibilities.

There were other standout performances: USC’s Iryna Vaschuk won the 1,500 and 5,000 and UCLA’s Candice Baucham took the long jump and triple jump. USC sprinter Wes Felix won two events and USC’s Jesse Williams cleared 7-5 in the high jump.

But the antics after the meet also left their mark.

“Now that is a rivalry, isn’t it?” Allice quipped.