Burnham Decides to Run for UCLA

Never one to procrastinate in races, Angela Burnham of Rio Mesa High took relatively little time in deciding that she will attend UCLA in the fall.

Burnham, the defending state champion in the 100 and 200 meters, narrowed her list of choices from five to three (UCLA, USC and Texas) on Monday and cut the list to one by Thursday night.

“I just felt most comfortable at UCLA,” said Burnham, who expects to inform UCLA women’s Coach Bobby Kersee of her decision this morning. “The program itself and the school had a lot to offer me. And they’ve got a great reputation, too.”

Second to Louisiana State by three points in the 1988 NCAA championships in Eugene, Ore., UCLA won consecutive NCAA women’s crowns in 1982 and ’83 and has placed seventh or better eight of the last nine years.

The list of UCLA alumni includes Olympic gold medalists and world-record holders Florence Griffith Joyner and Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

Although UCLA’s storied past influenced Burnham, who was Track and Field News’ female high school athlete of the year in 1988, the location of the Westwood campus was equally important as it will allow her to remain close to her family in Oxnard.

“That was probably the biggest factor,” said Burnham, who has personal bests of 11.28 in the 100, 23.45 in the 200 and 57.4 in the 400. “I did want to stay in the Southern California area if possible. I don’t think I’m ready to go off and attend school far away.”

A semifinalist in the 100 at the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, Burnham took recruiting trips to Tennessee and Nevada Las Vegas in addition to UCLA, USC and Texas.

“It’s a relief to have it over with,” she said. “I didn’t feel like there was much pressure on me to decide, but I guess there was.”

Rio Mesa co-coach Brian FitzGerald, a 1979 UCLA graduate, was not surprised by Burnham’s decision.

“I didn’t see how she could go anywhere else, all things considered,” he said. “But you never know. I think all three schools were good choices, but UCLA is a national title contender. . . . I think she made a good choice. I think UCLA has a lot to offer her.”

Her decision made, Burnham can turn her attention back to track.

The state champion in the 100 as a freshman, Burnham strained a hamstring muscle in the Southern Section 4-A Division championships as a sophomore, but came back to win the 100 and 200 as a junior and lead Rio Mesa to a share of the state team title.

If Burnham wins this year’s state 100 title, she would be the first athlete to win three girls’ 100 titles.