LOS ANGELES – The UCLA track and field team opened the month of April with some very impressive marks to close out the Legends Invitational, Saturday at Drake Stadium.
The meet got off to a fast start in the women's high jump. In her first competition in front of the Drake Stadium crowd, freshman Mikella Lefebvre-Oatis cleared three lifetime bests in the span of 10 minutes to not only tie for the sixth best mark in UCLA history at 6-0.75 but post the best jump in the nation up to Saturday.
In the men's event, both freshman Isaiah Holmes and sophomore Michael Burke cleared outdoor personal bests. Holmes won the event on misses as 7-2.50 while Burke leaped over the same height. Holmes also won the long jump at 23-10 while senior Austin Hazel was second at 23-6.50.
The Bruins also went 1-2 in the women's shot put as senior Torie Owers opened her outdoor season with a throw of 54-7.75. Sophomore Ashlie Blake followed at 53-11.50.
Junior Jessie Maduka soared to a new personal best in the triple jump as she won the event with a leap of 42-6. That mark is ninth all-time on the UCLA list.
In the women's pole vault, junior Elleyse Garrett also popped a personal best to win her event. Her clearance of 13-8.25 is cracks the UCLA all-time list at No. 10.
Sophomore Dotun Ogundeji won the men's discus with a throw of 175-3.50. In the men's shot put, Nate Esparza was third with a throw of 55-11.50.
On the track, sophomore Rai Benjamin and junior Leon Powell pushed each other to personal best to go 1-2 in the 200m. Benjamin posted a 20.64 while Powell followed at 20.90. Freshman Logen Casavant was fourth with a 21.22. Casavant also clocked a 47.67 to win the 400m. Sophomore Damion Marshall won his section of the 400m with a time of 48.69.
Freshman Riley Kelly pulled away in the 1,500m to win with a time of 3:55.51 while Sarah Holloway was third in the women's race with a 4:40.66. Sophomore Maddi Moore came back on short rest from the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival to finish second in the 800m with a 2:11.69.
Junior Misana Viltz just missed a victory in the 110m hurdles, falling by 1-100th of a second with a time of 14.10.
In the women's 100m, sophomore Suzie Acolatse was second at 11.72 while sophomore Schuyler Moore was fourth at 11.78. Junior Ashley Lewis won her section in the 100m at 12.09 and the 200m with a 24.48.
UCLA will remain at home for the Rafer Johnson/JJK Invitational on Saturday, April 8. The multis will head to the Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational, beginning on Friday, April 7.