Track team could be school's 'best ever'

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Dominic Johnson, a UA senior pole vaulter and decathlete, will help lead the vastly improved men's track and field squad. The track team hopes to combine superior depth and experience into a championship season.

But that could change this season, which begins Feb. 7 in Flagstaff against Northern Arizona and Arizona State.

"We don't have a national championship trophy on our desk. We have a good team now and we're the ones who have to get out there to challenge the Pac-10," UA head coach Dave Murray said.

On Sunday, one day after the Silver State Games in which six UA athletes participated, Murray called the team "the best one he has ever coached."

That sounds like a lot of optimism for a coach in his 31st season at UA. Murray, however, insists the statement is justifiable because of his teams' talent and depth.

Two important factors contributed to this situation.

The men's key returnees include Dominic Johnson, a senior vaulter and decathlete, plus senior throwers Chima Ugwu and Doug Reynolds. Reynolds is considered one of the nation's best in that competition.

Murray also has a lot of indoor threats.

Jussi Autio, Johnson and Jeff Dutiot are three pole vaulting contenders with championship character, Murray said.

Plus, the team acquired Klaus Ambrosen, a junior from Austria, who is capable of scoring 7,700 points in the decathlon. That score would have earned him a second place at last year's NCAA Championships. In addition, Jeff Dutiot, a sophomore transfer pole vaulter from Wichita State, Kan., has already cleared 18 feet.

"We're more of a championship team. You got to have the first (place), but you also need the depth for second, fifth or sixth in order to score points. That's what we didn't have the last years," Murray said.

The most notable women returning to UA are junior distance runner Amy Skieresz and sophomore sprinter Carolyn Jackson.

Both teams compete in indoor meets through March, but it is the outdoor events later in the season that count most.

"The two meets where you want everybody to be healthy and to do their best is the Pac-10 Championships in May and the NCAA's in June," Murray said.

However, Murray did not neglect March's NCAA Indoors in Indianapolis.

"If you have people who are capable of getting to the (indoor or outdoor) national championships, we want to give them the opportunity," Murray said.

In Indianapolis, the Wildcats will be favorites in the distance running with junior Abdi Abdirahman and last year's 5000-meter indoor champion Skieresz.

Murray said an Arizona champion in the shot put competition is a possibility too.

But UA's roster at the Indoor Championships won't reflect the real potential of the team since many of Arizona's strong events are not represented, like the decathlon and discus.

"We're going to be a much stronger team outdoors than we are indoors. I feel our men's team outdoors is probably one of the strongest," Murray said.

But Murray said the teams have to be consistent throughout the season and stay healthy.

"In track and field you have to do it on that day and that time. June 3-6 (the NCAA Outdoors in Buffalo, N.Y.) is still a long way to go, and a lot can happen between now and then," Murray said.

The Wildcats figure to be able to challenge everyone in the conference with their experience. Two athletes - Ugwu and Johnson - competed in the 1996 Olympics.

Aside from consistency and maintaining health, the team's remaining question is how fast the newcomers can be integrated.

But Murray is convinced about his team's postseason chances.

"If everything goes right, then we will definitely be there for a top three finish," he said.