TRACK AND FIELD : NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS : Sedwick Backs Out, Ends UCLA’s Chances

EUGENE, Ore. —  Never in her career had Tonya Sedwick quit. Something about finishing what you start.

Sedwick quit Friday--forced to withdraw after severe muscle spasms in her back--at the NCAA track and field championships, with only one event left in the heptathlon. Sedwick was in fourth place at the time and it was her last competition in a UCLA uniform.

With Sedwick’s loss went UCLA’s hopes, however dim to begin with, to win the national title that has eluded them. The Bruins have finished second for three consecutive years, an agony for Coach Bob Kersee that has not been erased by the excellent individual performances of his athletes.

With UCLA at diminished strength, the door is open for the powerful Louisiana State team to win an unprecedented fifth consecutive team title.

The cause of Sedwick’s injury is a mystery: The conditions at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field on Friday were markedly improved over Thursday’s opening day of cold and rain. Sedwick said she felt no pain when she arrived at the track to warm up for the long jump--the first of three events on the heptathlon’s second and final day.

The trouble came after Sedwick’s second jump. Her first two were fouls, making her final jump crucial. It was a conservative jump, but when it was finished, Sedwick could barely move.

“One minute I’m a 21-year-old woman, able to move any part of my body any way I want,” she said. “The next minute I’m not able to touch my toes.”

While her competitors moved on to the javelin, Sedwick sought out UCLA trainer Valerie Girand. It took Girand and Kersee together to help Sedwick put her sweats and shoes on.

After treatment, Sedwick attempted to throw the javelin. The pain in her back was so severe, Sedwick said she was frightened by it.

After one feeble throw, Sedwick withdrew from the event. It was an especially difficult decision for Sedwick, a senior. She placed third in the heptathlon at the 1989 NCAA championships and the event held great promise for her.

After taking a break from multi-event competition to run sprints and relays last season, Sedwick was eager to test herself in these championships, where she was among the favorites. The eventual winner was LSU’s Sharon Jaklofsky with 5,732 points.

Sedwick winced when told the winner’s point total--she has a best of 5,765 points.

“I’m not a ‘dumb’ athlete,” Sedwick said. “I’m not going to go so far so I really hurt my body. But I can’t tell you how difficult it was to quit. I have never, ever done that before. It hurts me. It really does.”

Sedwick, who has qualified for the long jump final, said she will see how she feels today before attempting to jump.

In other events, UCLA freshman Melisa Weis, who failed to advance in the discus Thursday, redeemed herself with a personal best throw in the shot. Weis threw 53 feet 4 1/2 inches as all three Bruin female throwers advanced. Defending champion Tracie Millett threw 54-4 and Dawn Dumble threw 52-5 1/2.

Eric Bergreen advanced in both the shot and hammer throw, with marks of 60-6 1/2 and 207-3, respectively. McArthur Anderson of UCLA advanced in the triple jump by going 53-2 3/4.

Janeene Vickers qualified in the 100-meter hurdles with her fastest legal time of 13.09.

Ashley Selmon of USC, defending champion in the javelin, advanced with a throw of 164-9. Selmon, too, is nursing a sore back and said she was saving her energy for Saturday’s final.