Bruins Cap NCAA West Prelims With Nine Qualifying Marks

Saturday, May 25

Sacramento, CA

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NCAA West Regionals

Sean Lee was the final competitor to clear 2.11m (6-11), helping him tie for 10th overall.

Bruins Cap NCAA West Prelims With Nine Qualifying Marks

May 25, 2019 | Track & Field

Results

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Five of UCLA's nine qualifying marks on Saturday came from the shot-put department, as the Bruins capped a standout week at the NCAA West Preliminary Championships at Sacramento State University.

The Bruins finished the NCAA West Preliminaries with 19 qualifying marks - the most since 2009 (20).

UCLA earned spots in the following events: men's shot put (Dotun Ogundeji, Nate Esparza, Otito Ogbonnia), women's shot put (Alyssa Wilson, Ashlie Blake), men's high jump (Sean Lee), men's 5000m (Robert Brandt), men's 4x100m (Leon Powell, Harrison Schrage, Myles Webb, Kenroy Higgins II) and men's 4x400m (Powell, Cameron Stone, Seth Holloway, Joe Herrera).

The Bruin shot putters proved why they're the best in the country, getting a trio of top-12 finishes from Ogudenji (fourth), Esparza (ninth) and Ogbonnia (11th). Ogundeji was one of just four athletes to reach 20 meters, posting 20.00m (65-7.5) on the spot. Esparza reached 19.21m (62-0.25) on his final attempt, and Ogbonnia registered a throw of 19.12m (62-8.75).

The women's shot putters had just as much success, reaping top-12 finishes from both Wilson (fourth) at 17.31m (56-9.5) and Blake (11th) at 16.40m (53-9.75). For the second straight season, Wilson is competing in three events at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship (discus, shot put, hammer).

Lee will be making his first nationals appearance, as he was the final competitor to clear 2.11m (6-11), helping him tie for 10th overall.

The foursome of Powell, Schrage, Webb and Higgins combined for a season-best 4x100m time of 39.79 to notch a 10th-place finish.

Brandt punched yet another ticket to Austin, placing seventh in the 5000m with a time of 13:49.69. He will also race in the 10K in Austin.

To cap the evening, the quartet of Powell, Stone, Holloway and Herrera came together for season-best time of 3:06.49 in the 4x400m to place 10th.

The wpmen's 4x400 squad of Tarika Moses, Suzie Acolatse, Jai Gruenwald and Schuyler Moore raced in 45.26 to place 16th.

Both Isaiah Holmes and Michael Burke wrapped up their 2019 campaigns in the high jump, placing 17th and 24th, respectively.

Jacob Wilson was UCLA's fourth competitor in the shot put, as he took 35th with a mark of 17.95m (58-10.75).

The Bruins will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on June 5-8 in Austin, Texas.