Speed kills.
While not all track and field events are based on speed, the swiftness of each Southern California school will be a major weapon in the battle for the Pacific-10 Conference team title.
Southern California and UCLA have been dominant in sprints and middle distance events this year, holding many of the conference’s top times.
While the schools have been successful in other areas, the advantage each holds in the speed events is glaring.
Here’s a look at what each team possesses heading into the Pac-10 Conference Championship meet this weekend in Tucson, Ariz.

Arizona
The Wildcats feature one of the nation’s best distance runners in sophomore Robert Cheseret.
A native of Kenya, Cheseret owns the Pac-10’s top mark in the 5,000 (13 minutes, 22.65 seconds) and second best in the 10,000 (28:25.62). The Wildcats are tied for the No. 17 ranking nationally according the Trackwire.com top 25.

Arizona State
The Sun Devils are deep in the 400 and own top times in the 4×100 (39.21) and 4×400 relays (3:01.51). Defending champion Lewis Banda (first, 45.23), Jason Barton (third, 45.56) and Domenik Peterson (fourth 46.01) should bring home favorable marks in the 400.

California
The Golden Bears have a legitimate shot at four individual event titles. Sophomore Teak Williams owns the conference’s top high jump mark (7-5), while senior Ahmad Wright is a contender in the 400 hurdles (third, 51.19).

Oregon
The Ducks are highlighted by event leaders Tommy Skipper (pole vault, 18-8 3/4), Eric Mitchum (110 hurdles, 13.50), Brandon Holliday (400 hurdles, 51.08) and Brett Holts (steeplechase, 8:44.57). Oregon is ranked No. 20.

Stanford
Lead by Donald Sage (first, 3:40.31) the Cardinal’s strongest event is the 1,500, where it owns three of the top four times. Stanford’s deepest event is the 5,000, where the Cardinal feature eight of the top 12 competitors. Stanford is ranked No. 11.

UCLA
Led by Nick Thornton (first, 1:48.01), the Bruins own three of the top four marks in the 800. Along with Craig Everhart in the 400 (second, 45.39) and Jon Rankin in the 1,500 (third, 3:43.10) the Bruins should score many points in the sprints and middle distances.

USC
When it comes to short bursts, nobody can touch the Trojans.
Garry Jones blazed his way to the Pac-10’s top mark in the 100 (10.26) and is joined by three of his teammates to round out the top five. Wes Felix is tied for the second-best mark in the 100 (10.31) and the top mark in the 200 (20.57). Felix is the defending Pac-10 champion in the 200. The Trojans also feature one of the nation’s top triple jumpers in Allen Simms (first, 55-4 3/4).

Washington
The Huskies’ chances at a Pac-10 title look bleak. With few athletes near the top of the standings, the javelin has been a bright spot with Brian Harris (second, 221-0) and Rigel Wise (third, 220-6) sitting in the top three.

Washington State
The Cougars’ hopes for high marks fall on the shoulders of Anthony Buchanan and Matt Mason. Buchanan is the defending Pac-10 champion in the 100 (fourth, 10.33), and Mason owns the top mark in the long jump (26-6 1/4).