University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
MPSF Indoor Championships
Bruin Men Lead After Day One of MPSF Indoor Championships
February 22, 2019 | Track & Field
SEATTLE โ A trio of Bruins won individual MPSF titles Friday, as victories from Justin Stafford, Robert Brandt, and Sondre Guttormsen propelled the UCLA men's track & field squad to the top of the team standings heading into day two of the conference championships.
Stafford had a career night in the cage, winning the men's weight throw competition with a lifetime-best launch of 21.66m (71-00.75). Stafford bested his competitors by over a full meter and moved into second place all-time in UCLA indoor history in the event. He also became just the second Bruin man to ever eclipse the 71-foot mark in the weight throw.
Brandt took home the MPSF title in the 5,000m for the Bruin men, securing the 10 points with a time of 13:57.31. Senior Colin Burke was close behind in fourth place, finishing at 14:00.76. In his first career appearance in the event, sophomore Chris Morzenti finished in 17th place with a time of 14:20.12.
Guttormsen continued his brilliant freshman campaign in the pole vault, winning the event with a clearance of 5.37m (17-07.25). His MPSF title marks the third pole vault victory for the Norway native in his debut season. Sophomore Tate Curran took home five points for the men's squad with a fourth-place finish, clearing 5.12m (16-09.50).
The women's 5,000m competition saw sophomore Christina Rice take second place, finishing with a lifetime-best time of 16:31.55. The time was good for eight points for the UCLA women and solidified Rice's third-place position on UCLA's all-time indoor list. Junior Jackie Garner finished 10th overall with an indoor-best time of 17:16.79.
Redshirt senior Elleyse Garrett got the Bruin women on the scoreboard with a third-place finish in the women's pole vault. Her mark of 4.19m (13-09.00) was good for six points in the team standings. Senior Melissa Maneatis cleared 3.39m (11-01.50) for 22nd place overall.
The men's 200m saw senior Leon Powell, freshman Seth Holloway, and junior Jesse Audelo all clock collegiate indoor-best times. Powell finished sixth overall in the men's 200m, crossing at of 21.32 to secure four points for the Bruins. Holloway finished in 11th place at 21.61, while Audelo took 20th with a time of 22.27. Powell also led the way for the Bruin men in the 60m competition, qualifying for Saturday's final with a seventh-place finish a season-best time of 6.79.
Freshman Aidan Jackman finished tied for 10th overall in the 60m hurdles with a lifetime-best time of 8.15, qualifying him for Saturday's final. The mark is good for eighth all-time in UCLA indoor history. Fellow first year Nyree Brown represented the Bruins in the women's competition, posting her own collegiate best of 9.14 (28th place).
Senior Suzie Acolatse just missed qualifying for the women's 60m final, as her time of 7.51 was good for a ninth-place finish in the preliminary round. Freshman Jade Hinds crossed at 7.95 to finish 45th overall.
The DMR competitions were the last track events of the evening, with UCLA's men's and women's squads finishing inย 10th and 11thย place in their respective races. The men's teamโCarter Blunt, Joe Herrera, Riley Kelly, and Arturo Sotomayorโcrossed the line at 10:25.93. The Bruin women's quartetโCassandra Durgy, Brown, Gwyneth George, and Kelly Berndโfinished with a time of 11:34.99.
The UCLA men currently top the team standings at the MPSF Indoor Championships with 43 points. The Bruin women head into day two with 14 points, good for 10th place. Saturday's meet program begins with the women's high jump at 10:00am P.T. The first event on the track will be the men's 60m hurdle heptathlon competition, with the gun slated to go off at 10:30am P.T.
