University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Don Kirby Collegiate Elite Invitational
School Records from Brandt, Guttormsen Headline Historic Day for Track & Field
February 08, 2019 | Track & Field
On a day that saw the UCLA track &ย field team split its squad at the Husky Classic (Seattle, Wash.) and Don Kirby Invite (Albuquerque, N.M.), the Bruins came away with school records from Robert Brandt and Sondre Guttormsen, six lifetime bests, and four event victories across both meets.
The men's 5000m at the Husky Classic saw Brandt continue to etch his name all over the UCLA record books, as the redshirt junior set an indoor school record in the event with a time of 13:40.82. The lifetime-best mark was good for third place in the competition and smashed Dustin Fay's previous Bruin record of 13:49.96, which he set in February 2012.
Guttormsen stole the show on day one of the Don Kirby Invite, as the freshman phenom cleared 5.73m (18-09.50) to set a new UCLA all-time record in the pole vault and take home the event victory. The mark extends Guttormsen's own indoor record of 5.71m (18-08.75) that he set at the Columbia Challenge on January 26. The Norway native also broke the tie he held with Mike Tullyโwho cleared 5.71m in 1978 in outdoor competitionโto stand alone atop the UCLA all-time pole vault list.
Husky Classic
Brandt's school record led the way as Bruins' distance squad put on an impressive display at Dempsey Indoor, with UCLA compiling seven career or season-best performances on the day.
Senior Colin Burke also had a career day in the 5,000m in Seattle. Burke ran a lifetime-best time of 13:58.62 to finish 17th overall, ducking under 14:00.00 for the first time in indoor competition. Burke solidified his existing sixth-place position in the UCLA indoor record books in the event.
Sophomore Christina Rice toed the line in the women's 5,000m in her 2019 debut, posting a time of 16:33.01 for 19th place collegiately. In just her first indoor 5,000m race, Rice has already vaulted to third in UCLA indoor history in the event.
Riley Kelly shined in the men's 800m, clocking a time of 1:49.99 for second place in the collegiate competition. The time was good for an indoor-best for the junior from Brisbane, Australia, as he became just the ninth Bruin in school history to crack the 1:50.00 barrier in indoor competition.
The women's mile saw Cassandra Durgy shave her season-best time by over five seconds, as the junior crossed the line with a time of 4:51.11. The time was good for 14th collegiately and 22nd overall. The men's competition saw juniors Arturo Sotomayor and Carter Blunt finish 20th and 26th overall, respectively, with both student-athletes posting season-best marks. Sotomayor crossed at 4:06.36, while Blunt finished at 4:07.15.
Due to inclement weather, University of Washington Director of Track & Field Maurica Powell and Head Coach Andy Powell decided to cancel Saturday's meet program and consolidate the entire meet schedule on Friday. There will be no competitions held Saturday.
Don Kirby Invite
Sophomore Alyssa Wilson was the class of the women's weight throw, winning the competition with a launch of 22.23m (72-11.25). The throw is good for Wilson's third lifetime best in the event this season and the second-best mark in UCLA history.
Senior Justin Stafford took down the men's collegiate competition in the weight throw, tossing the implement 20.39m (66-10.75) for the win. Redshirt freshman Jacob Wilson finished 10th with a mark of 17.78m (58-04.00).
Guttormsen wasn't the only Bruin pole vaulter to have a career night Friday. Sophomore Tate Curran cleared 5.33m (17-05.75), good for a lifetime-best mark. Curran finished in eighth place on attempts.
The men's high jump saw senior Michael Burke and freshman Sean Lee both clear 2.21m (7-01.50). The pair finished in second and third place, respectively, with Burke taking the runner-up position on attempts.
Senior Leon Powell led the way for the Bruins in the men's 200m, clocking a time of 21.65 to win his heat and finish 10th overall. Freshmen Seth Holloway (14th) crossed with a season-best time of 21.77, while junior Jesse Audelo (27th) finished at 22.13. In the women's competition, senior Schuyler Moore and freshman Jade Hinds won their respective heats. Moore posted a time of 24.53 for 21st place, while Hinds crossed at 25.63.
The freshman trio of Dakota Stanly, Nyree Brown, and Kyrah Johnson all toed the line for the Bruins in the women's 400m. Stanly won her heat with a season-best time of 57.60, good for 22nd overall. Brown and Johnson finished with times of 58.09 and 59.63, respectively.
Sophomore Matthew DeRoos was the Bruins' lone representative in the men's long jump, leaping 6.78m (21-08.00) for 23rd place. Freshman Jazmin Moss cleared 5.25m (17-02.75) to finish 46th in the women's competition.
The Don Kirby Invitational will continue Saturday morning with the women's shot put at 8:30 a.m. (PT). The women's 60m hurdles will be the first track event of the day, with the gun slated to go off at 9:00 a.m. (PT).
