UCLA
Pac-12 Championships
UCLA Off to a Fast Start at Pac-12s
May 15, 2016 | Track & Field
SEATTLE, Wash. – The UCLA track and field team opened the Pac-12 Championships with two individual victories and some momentum heading into championship Sunday. The Bruin women are currently in second with 41 points while the men are in third with 45 points.
For the third straight season Nicholas Scarvelis was the class of the conference. The senior uncorked a stadium record throw of 67-4.75 to lead a UCLA 1-2 finish in the event. Sophomore Braheme Days was the runner-up at 64-8.50 while freshman Dotun Ogundeji was fifth with an outdoor personal best throw of 61-9.75.
Senior Kylie Price soared to her first Pac-12 title as she set a new stadium record with a leap of 21-0.50. Price entered the meet as a two-time runner-up in the event but was unfazed on Saturday despite the inclement weather at Husky Track. In the men's long jump junior Austin Hazel was the runner-up with a jump of 24-8.25.
Day one concluded in impressive fashion as senior Lane Werley posted the ninth best time in school history in the 10k with a time of 29:07.23 to finish as the Pac-12 runner-up. Werley used a scorching 60.4 final lap to secure the big points for the Bruins.
Junior Torie Owers was the first Bruin on the podium as she placed third in the shot put with a throw of 53-1.50. Freshman Stamatia Scarvelis also scored as she was fifth with a mark of 52-3.25 while Ashlie Blake was 11th at 47-5.25.
In the javelin junior Zaybree Haury took third for the Bruins as she tossed a mark of 146-1. Sophomore Kendall Gustafson also made the podium as she cleared 5-8.75 in the high jump to place third overall.
In the first final on the track a pair of Bruins shattered the school record in the steeple. Junior Emily Scharmann clocked a big personal best with a time of 10:11.30 to place seventh overall while freshman Carolina Johnson, in just her second collegiate steeple ran a 10:13.28. Scharmann entered the meet with the second best time in school history at 10:23.11 while Johnson posted the sixth best at 10:36.12.
The UCLA men's 4x100m relay advanced to the finals with ease by finishing second in their heat with a time of 40.55. The women's quartet was disqualified for a zone violation.
Senior Trinity Wilson automatically qualified for the 100m hurdle finals by placing second in her heat with a time of 14.08. Sophomore Misana Viltz also advanced as he was third in his heat of the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.19.
The UCLA sprint duo of sophomore Leon Powell and senior Kenny Walker advanced to the 100m finals as Powell clocked a 10.49 and Walker followed at 10.56. Walker, the UCLA standout wide receiver was able to post his qualifying time in just his second week on the track. Freshman Angie Annelus qualified for the 100m and 200m final with times of 11.43 and 23.68, respectively. Powell also advanced in the 200m with a time of 21.51.
Senior Nick Hartle pulled away from the field in his heat of the 800m to automatically advance to the finals with a time of 1:49.80.
In the 400m hurdles freshman Jasmine Stauffacher-Gray clocked a personal best 58.38 to finish second in her heat and automatically qualify for the finals on Sunday. On the men's side freshman Rai Benjamin made his highly anticipated collegiate debut by finishing second with a time of 52.21. Senior Andre Chapman also qualified by placing second in his heat with a season best 52.45.
Championships will begin at 9 a.m. with the women's hammer. The finals on the track begin at 1 p.m.
