LOS ANGELES – The UCLA track and Field team opened its home slate in very impressive fashion on Friday at Drake Stadium. The Bruin distance squad posted national-marks and numerous personal bests at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival while the rest of the squad set the tone in field events in the Legends Invitational.
Bob Larsen Distance Carnival
Senior Austin O'Neil was one of the highlights on the evening as the senior clocked the sixth fastest time in school history. In his first official steeple in a UCLA uniform, O'Neil won the race with a very impressive early season time of 8:44.46.
In the women's steeple, sophomore Taylor Taite ran a personal best time of 10:57.27 to place sixth.
In the 5,000m, junior Daniel De La Torre and freshman Garrett Reynolds both broke 14-minutes as De La Torre won with a lifetime best of 13:57.25 while Reynolds followed at 13:58.39.
In her first UCLA outdoor meet freshman Cassie Durgy surged the final 300 meters to win the 800m in an impressive 2:10.94. Sophomore Maddi Moore clocked a personal best 4:38.13 to pull away from the field to win the 1,500m. In the invitational 1,500m, sophomore Julia Rizk was fifth with a personal best time of 4:26.07. Junior Emily Fieberling clocked a personal best 4:39.28 to place eighth.
In the men's mile, freshman John Carter Blunt clocked a 4:02.06 to finish second while sophomore Arturo Sotomayor closely followed in third at 4:03.57. Sophomore George Gleason was fifth at 4:05.06.
The men's 10k was all UCLA. All-American Bruin alum Lane Werley won the race in a time of 29:16.08. Freshman Colin Burke was the collegiate winner with a lifetime best of 29:27.91.
The women's 10k wrapped up the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival as redshirt freshman Jackie Garner was the top collegiate finisher and third overall with a time of 34:58.47. Freshman Claire Markey was fifth at 35:26.70.
Legends Invitational Day 1
Sophomore Justin Stafford made his UCLA debut and placed fifth in the hammer with a throw of 191-8. Senior Torie Owers was eighth in the women's competition with a throw of 170-2.75. Senior Jonah Diaz also impressed with a best of 29:52.29 while sophomore Jackson Marshall followed at 29:59.70 and Myles Smith was fifth at 30:04.84.
The UCLA multis used Friday as a gear up for the Sam Adams Combined Invitational next week. Junior Kendall Gustafson won the long jump with a mark of 18-1.50 (5.53m). She also launched a huge personal best in the shot put to win the event with a throw of 44-1.75 (13.46m). Sophomore Christina Chenault was third with a personal best 40-10 (12.45m). Monique Van and Dominque Beltrez also hit a PRs in the shot with a 37-2.25 (11.34m) and 30-11.50 (9.44m), respectively.
The Legends Invitational will continue on Saturday, April 1. The field events begin at 10 a.m. while the running events start at 2 p.m.
Bob Larsen Distance Carnival
Senior Austin O'Neil was one of the highlights on the evening as the senior clocked the sixth fastest time in school history. In his first official steeple in a UCLA uniform, O'Neil won the race with a very impressive early season time of 8:44.46.
In the women's steeple, sophomore Taylor Taite ran a personal best time of 10:57.27 to place sixth.
In the 5,000m, junior Daniel De La Torre and freshman Garrett Reynolds both broke 14-minutes as De La Torre won with a lifetime best of 13:57.25 while Reynolds followed at 13:58.39.
In her first UCLA outdoor meet freshman Cassie Durgy surged the final 300 meters to win the 800m in an impressive 2:10.94. Sophomore Maddi Moore clocked a personal best 4:38.13 to pull away from the field to win the 1,500m. In the invitational 1,500m, sophomore Julia Rizk was fifth with a personal best time of 4:26.07. Junior Emily Fieberling clocked a personal best 4:39.28 to place eighth.
In the men's mile, freshman John Carter Blunt clocked a 4:02.06 to finish second while sophomore Arturo Sotomayor closely followed in third at 4:03.57. Sophomore George Gleason was fifth at 4:05.06.
The men's 10k was all UCLA. All-American Bruin alum Lane Werley won the race in a time of 29:16.08. Freshman Colin Burke was the collegiate winner with a lifetime best of 29:27.91.
The women's 10k wrapped up the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival as redshirt freshman Jackie Garner was the top collegiate finisher and third overall with a time of 34:58.47. Freshman Claire Markey was fifth at 35:26.70.
Legends Invitational Day 1
Sophomore Justin Stafford made his UCLA debut and placed fifth in the hammer with a throw of 191-8. Senior Torie Owers was eighth in the women's competition with a throw of 170-2.75. Senior Jonah Diaz also impressed with a best of 29:52.29 while sophomore Jackson Marshall followed at 29:59.70 and Myles Smith was fifth at 30:04.84.
The UCLA multis used Friday as a gear up for the Sam Adams Combined Invitational next week. Junior Kendall Gustafson won the long jump with a mark of 18-1.50 (5.53m). She also launched a huge personal best in the shot put to win the event with a throw of 44-1.75 (13.46m). Sophomore Christina Chenault was third with a personal best 40-10 (12.45m). Monique Van and Dominque Beltrez also hit a PRs in the shot with a 37-2.25 (11.34m) and 30-11.50 (9.44m), respectively.
The Legends Invitational will continue on Saturday, April 1. The field events begin at 10 a.m. while the running events start at 2 p.m.