SEATTLE, Wash. – The UCLA track and field team wrapped up day one of the MPSF Championships on Friday at the Dempsey Indoor at the University of Washington. The Bruin men enter the final day leading with 32 points while the women are in third with 26.33.
UCLA was strong across the board, using several personal bests to score crucial points in nearly every event.
The pentathlon showcased two personal bests from the Bruins. Junior Kendall Gustafson was the runner-up with a score of 3,958 while sophomore Christina Chenault was fourth at 3,689 points. Gustafson improves the fourth best score in UCLA indoor history while Chenault moves to sixth all-time.
Sophomore Elleyse Garrett recorded a huge lifetime best as well by soaring 13-6.25 to finish tied for second overall in the women's pole vault. Sophomore Greta Wagner nearly cleared 14-0 on her final attempt but ended up fifth overall at 13-6.25.
The men's long jump had two Bruin scorers. Freshman Isaiah Holmes leaped to a season-best 24-7.75 to place fourth while senior Austin Hazel placed fifth at 24-7.25.
In the distance events, the men's DMR closed out the meet with a runner-up finish. The quartet of John Carter Blunt, Joe Herrera, Scott Snow and Arturo Sotomayor clocked a season-best 9:37.90. The women's DMR of Emily Scharmann, Schuyler Moore, Cassandra Durgy and Emily Fieberling were eighth with a season-best 11:43.99.
Redshirt freshman Colin Burke closed strong in the 5,000m to place third overall with a lifetime best of 14:03.11. That time ranks fifth all-time on the UCLA indoor list.
In the women's 5,000m the UCLA trio all set personal bests. Junior Roni Yamane clocked a 16:47.90 to place 16th. Freshman Daniela LoCastro was 21st at 16:54.90 while redshirt freshman Jackie Garner was 23rd at 17:17.51. Yamane's 16:47.90 is fifth on the UCLA indoor list while LoCastro improves to sixth.
In the men's 60m, junior Leon Powell won his heat and was the fifth fastest qualifier with a time of 6.77. Senior Darnell Roberson clocked a 6.91 to place 12th. In the 200m, sophomore Rai Benjamin was third with a time of 21.09. Powell placed sixth at 21.46.
Freshman Celera Barnes won her heat in the 60m with a time of 7.42 but was the ninth finisher overall, narrowly missing the finals. Sophomore Suzie Acolatse ran a 7.51. Both just missed advancing to the finals. Acolatse came back to score in the 200m by placing seventh with a time of 24.44.
Junior Misana Viltz also just missed out on the finals in the 60m hurdles as he clocked an 8.14 to place ninth overall. Sophomore Pattriana Perry was 11th with an 8.68.
UCLA will close out the championship meet tomorrow with the first event scheduled for 10:30 a.m. PT.