UCLA
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational
Bruins Cap MLK Invite with Three Event Victories
January 20, 2018 | Track & Field
Albuquerque, N.M. – The UCLA track and field team concluded its first indoor meet of the 2018 season Saturday at the MLK Invite, finishing strong with impressive debuts and personal-best marks.
The highlight of the day came in the women's triple jump, where senior Jessie Maduka stole the show. With a lifetime-best mark of 45-01.00 (13.74m), Maduka broke the indoor school record and moved herself into second place all-time in the event. Junior CJ Alumbres had an impressive performance in the men's competition, finishing second overall with a mark of 49-07.00 (15.11m).
The UCLA throwers were keen to show their prowess today, and both the men and women shined in the shot put. Sophomore Nate Esparza won the men's competition with a lifetime-best launch of 63-11.50 (19.49m), a throw that puts him seventh all-time in UCLA indoor history. Junior Dotun Ogundeji was the runner-up with a throw of 63-06.75 (15.84m). The women's competition saw junior Ashlie Blake (55-01.50, 16.80m) and freshman Alyssa Wilson (54-02.75, 16.53m) go 2-3 collegiately, with Blake's mark being the No. 8 mark on UCLA's all-time indoor Top 10 list.
Senior Elleyse Garrett took home the Bruins' third event victory of Day 2 in the women's pole vault competition. Her clearance of 13-04.25 was good for the victory in the collegiate field.
The 60m dash saw senior Ashley Lewis lead the way for the Bruin women, making it through two rounds of qualifying to finish sixth overall with a lifetime-best time of 7.61. On the men's side, sophomore Isaiah Holmes followed his collegiate high jump victory Friday with his first appearance in the 60m, running 6.99 to finish seventh in the preliminary round.
Senior Kendall Gustafson led the way for UCLA in the 60m hurdles, finishing 14th overall in the preliminaries with a time of 8.96. Senior Christina Chenault posted a time of 9.50 to finish 30th.
Sophomore Logen Casavant took third overall in the 400m, finishing with a time of 47.81 to set a new indoor-best time by almost two seconds.
The women's 800m was highlighted by freshman Jacquelyn Hill's impressive collegiate debut, finishing fourth overall with a time of 2:14.71. Sophomore Madison Moore took 15th overall with a time of 2:24.38 and freshman Paige Carter (2:29.54) finished 18th on her debut. Redshirt sophomore Millen Trujillo finished eighth in the men's 800m, running a lifetime-best time of 1:56.81.
Carter Blunt was the runner-up in the men's mile with a time of 4:13.69. Freshman Christina Rice impressed in her UCLA track debut, running 5:04.78 to finish seventh overall. Redshirt freshman Kelly Bernd also made her debut in the mile, finishing 11th overall with a time of 5:15.99.
The Bruins will be back in action next weekend for the Dr. Sander Invite at the Armory Track in New York City, a two-day meet beginning Friday, January 26.
Players Mentioned
