Track athletes soar to new heights

photo by Liz Lucsko

Will Lawson and Jason Riley earned All-State honors at the ninth annual California/Nevada State track and field meet in Fresno. Lawson placed third in the 400 meter intermediate hurdles with a school record time of 52.20, the fastest qualifying time in NCAA Division III track and field competition to date. Riley set a new school record in the high jump, clearing 6' 8 3/4" to earn a fourth-place finish to Division I competitors from UCLA and UC Riverside. Both Lawson and Riley have top ranking marks and hope to win their events at the SCIAC Championships April 27 through 29 in Claremont.

by Matt Paulson
Staff Writer

Over spring break, the University of La Verne track and field teams traveled to the California/Nevada State Championships meet held in Fresno. In this, a meet held for all levels of collegiate athletes, two Leopards worked their way to school records and all-state commemoration.

Will Lawson and Jason Riley established themselves at the meet, held March 30-31, as two of the top athletes in their fields for Division III.

Lawson, a junior and former Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference athlete of the week for March 19, finished third in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 52.20. The time was good enough to put Lawson atop the Division III list in the event. He surpassed his own time by .55 seconds, and, once again, broke the ULV school record. Lawson's performance in the event put an exclamation point on his qualification for Nationals as his previous time of 52.75 on March 16 already provided him with an automatic spot in the tournament. The all-state selection at the tournament tallied Lawson his second in as many years. He has also been the conference champion two consecutive years, and this year will be his third, he said.

Riley, a senior in only his second year high-jumping, also tacked a new school record in the meet. He leaped to a 4th place finish with a jump of 6-8 3/4 and moved up on the provisional list of qualifiers for the National Tournament, thus substantially increasing his chances of being handed a berth. The hop of 6' 8 3/4" has improved 4" on his totals last year which is a "really big jump in one year," said head coach Pat Widolff.

These performances and others like them have catapulted Lawson to No. 1 in the nation and Riley to No. 6 in their events. One must wonder what it is about these athletes that puts them above their competition.

"I'd say it's talent. They still have room for improvement. They haven't reached their potential yet," replied Widolff.

Lawson attributed his success to the former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden's "pyramid of success." He read it over and realized that it wasn't just for basketball, but every sport.

In addition to the Wooden's program, Lawson said, "It came down to a matter of me seeing what I wanted and setting my ambitions high. Now that I'm there, it pushes me to work harder to stay ahead."

Riley stated his abilities are based mainly on God-given talent.

"God has blessed me to be naturally athletic. I have always been able to jump. The first time I dunked a basketball was freshman year in high school," he said.

Although, he says, he does not work any harder than anyone else in the Conference, Riley feels that he does also work hard and makes high-jumping the main priority in his life in order to take his talent places.

"I think about high jumping when I'm sleeping, in the shower, in church and in class."

Whatever it is that puts these two above their competitors, they have shown to be two of the top in their events in the nation, that is why Lawson has been automatically selected for the National Tournament and Riley is on his way to, in all probability, being given a spot as a member of the provisional list.

"I'm excited about Nationals," said Lawson. He continued to say that he loves to just go and talk about track with other athletes. "It's my passion."

As far as his goals for his finish in the tournament, Lawson articulated, "I would love to get first-place in my events. Mainly the 400 hurdles This is my event, I have what it takes to be No. 1 in the world."

"To become the National High Jump Champion" is Riley's boldly stated goal. "It would be sufficient for some to finish in the top eight and become All-American, but I was born for greatness, so why not do something great?"

Riley continued to say that with the women's volleyball team winning a championship, along with some of the Leopard swimmers and divers placing high, and the men's volleyball team's chances, he just wants a "piece of the pie."

After the National Tournament is over and all of the awards are handed out, and the tears of glory or defeat have dried, the athletes must travel back to their respective schools and be shoved into the real world yet again. They must open back up their books and think about life after college.

Widolff said that a future goal for Lawson is to improve 1 1/2 seconds on his present times making him fast enough to qualify for the Olympic trials.

Lawson also said to have recently been accepted to the Los Angeles City Fire Academy.

"I'm looking to make somewhat of a career out of that, and eventually get into politics." His ultimate goal is to become mayor of L.A. in order to give back to where he came from. He also said he wants to have a family and become a track coach so he can "help teach young kids that want to become the best in the world."

Riley says that he will continue to compete in high-jumping because he would like to see how far he can take it.

Outside of track, Riley says he will "continue to play and teach music." Otherwise, he said, "Investment banking is the direction I'm heading right now. I'm knowledgeable in that area and I get excited talking about money."

Whatever their futures may hold, these two athletes have left their marks on ULV athletic history. As true athletes, though, they are not satisfied. They are always looking to improve and become the best they can be and turn in the best results they can.

They will attempt to do this at their next meet on April 19 in the Pomona-Pitzer. Invitational.