The UCLA track and field team finished up a busy weekend at the UNM Team Open in Albuquerque, N.M., and the UW Invitational in Seattle Wash., coming away with historic performances season-best marks in both locations.
UNM TEAM OPEN
The Bruins got off to hot start in the field, securing victories in the men's high jump and women's weight throw to open the day. Sophomore Sean Lee picked up his second win in the high jump this season, clearing 2.18m (7-01.75) for the victory. With the clearance, Lee bettered his own indoor personal-best mark of 7-01.50 and solidified his No. 3 position on the all-time UCLA indoor high jump list.
Junior Alyssa Wilson launched 22.10m (72-06.25) for the win in the weight throw, the mark over eight feet further than her closest challenger's. The win was good for Wilson's second weight throw title of the year and fifth overall victory in the throws in 2020. Wilson went on to take the runner-up position in the shot put competition, throwing 16.82m (55-02.25) for second place.
The men's shot put saw junior Nate Esparza also finish second, posting a season-best throw of 19.40m (63-07.75). Redshirt sophomore Jacob Wilson finished in seventh place with a mark of 17.89m (58-08.50).
UW INVITATIONAL
The 3,000m was the story of the afternoon in Seattle for the Bruins. The women's competition saw Christina Rice make her season debut and take fourth overall, clocking a time of 9:20.01 for a 27-second PR and the third-fastest indoor time in school history. Not to be outdone, Colin Burke made his own 2020 debut and toed the line in the men's 3k, finishing in fourth place with a time of 7:59.34. The time moved Burke into fifth place on UCLA's all-time indoor list in the event.
Gwyn George ran her first mile for UCLA and did not disappoint, clocking a time of 4:48.07 to finish third in her heat and post the eighth-fastest indoor mile in school history. Paige Carter notched her second-consecutive mile PR of the year, ducking under 5:00 once again to clock a time of 4:59.06 for a heat victory.
Junior Chris Morzenti continued his impressive start to the year with his second mile PR of the young 2020 season. He clocked 4:04.64 to second in his heat and 18th overall in the event. Chris Weiland finished in 39th place with a time of 4:09.94, while Munir Kabbara and Andy Ehrenberg went 45-46 with times of 4:13.66 and 4:17.34, respectively.
Riley Kelly led the way for the Bruins in the men's 800m, as the senior won his heat and finished fourth overall with a season-best time of 1:50.75. Freshman Mason Ratkovich secured 10th place, improving his season-best by almost two seconds with a time of 1:53.23. Senior Cassandra Durgy clocked a time of 2:14.04 to finish sixth in her heat.
UP NEXT
The Bruins are back in action next week for the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, hosted by the University of New Mexico. It will be UCLA's second of three-consecutive weekend trips to Albuquerque this regular season.
UNM TEAM OPEN
The Bruins got off to hot start in the field, securing victories in the men's high jump and women's weight throw to open the day. Sophomore Sean Lee picked up his second win in the high jump this season, clearing 2.18m (7-01.75) for the victory. With the clearance, Lee bettered his own indoor personal-best mark of 7-01.50 and solidified his No. 3 position on the all-time UCLA indoor high jump list.
Junior Alyssa Wilson launched 22.10m (72-06.25) for the win in the weight throw, the mark over eight feet further than her closest challenger's. The win was good for Wilson's second weight throw title of the year and fifth overall victory in the throws in 2020. Wilson went on to take the runner-up position in the shot put competition, throwing 16.82m (55-02.25) for second place.
The men's shot put saw junior Nate Esparza also finish second, posting a season-best throw of 19.40m (63-07.75). Redshirt sophomore Jacob Wilson finished in seventh place with a mark of 17.89m (58-08.50).
UW INVITATIONAL
The 3,000m was the story of the afternoon in Seattle for the Bruins. The women's competition saw Christina Rice make her season debut and take fourth overall, clocking a time of 9:20.01 for a 27-second PR and the third-fastest indoor time in school history. Not to be outdone, Colin Burke made his own 2020 debut and toed the line in the men's 3k, finishing in fourth place with a time of 7:59.34. The time moved Burke into fifth place on UCLA's all-time indoor list in the event.
Gwyn George ran her first mile for UCLA and did not disappoint, clocking a time of 4:48.07 to finish third in her heat and post the eighth-fastest indoor mile in school history. Paige Carter notched her second-consecutive mile PR of the year, ducking under 5:00 once again to clock a time of 4:59.06 for a heat victory.
Junior Chris Morzenti continued his impressive start to the year with his second mile PR of the young 2020 season. He clocked 4:04.64 to second in his heat and 18th overall in the event. Chris Weiland finished in 39th place with a time of 4:09.94, while Munir Kabbara and Andy Ehrenberg went 45-46 with times of 4:13.66 and 4:17.34, respectively.
Riley Kelly led the way for the Bruins in the men's 800m, as the senior won his heat and finished fourth overall with a season-best time of 1:50.75. Freshman Mason Ratkovich secured 10th place, improving his season-best by almost two seconds with a time of 1:53.23. Senior Cassandra Durgy clocked a time of 2:14.04 to finish sixth in her heat.
UP NEXT
The Bruins are back in action next week for the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, hosted by the University of New Mexico. It will be UCLA's second of three-consecutive weekend trips to Albuquerque this regular season.