UCLA runner Ben Aragon went into Eric Peterson's office during the week and offered to run all three distance events if his coach needed him to in Saturday's track and field meet with USC. Peterson hoped the Bruins could avoid that scenario.
With the meet in the balance and the Trojans favored in the final event, the 4x400 relay, UCLA realistically needed a sweep in the 5,000 meters to clinch the victory. So Aragon attempted a rare triple after winning the 1,500 and 800 earlier.
The sophomore had enough left in him to win the race and teammates Erik Emilsson and Justin Patananan followed him to give the UCLA men nine key points and the difference in an 82-81 dual meet win before 3,087 at USC's Loker Stadium.
The trio, especially Patananan, kept Trojan senior Justin Neems from getting into third and securing a point. Had Neems done that, which he did in USC's win two years ago, the Trojans could have won the meet with its relay victory.
