University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
UW Invite
Bruins Pick Up Wins at UW Invite, Millrose Games
January 31, 2026 | Track & Field
Senior thrower Michael Pinckney and redshirt freshman distance runner Jack Falkowski picked up event wins to highlight the weekend for the UCLA track & field team, which was competing in limited action at the UW Invite/Mile City meet in Seattle, Wash. and the Millrose Games in New York City.
UCLA was competing on a very limited basis over the weekend, with just the distance squad heading to Seattle and a pair of throwers in action in NYC.
Pinckney and teammate Simon Skoumal were the first Bruins in action over the weekend. Pinckney, a Queens, N.Y. native, logged a homecoming win in the men's weight throw – his third gold medal in as many outings in that event so far this season – with a mark of 21.10m (69-2.75). Skoumal had a strong showing of his own, notching a PR at 19.26m (63-2.75) to finish sixth.
The women stood out for UCLA on Friday at the UW invite. Standout efforts in particular came from junior Ailish Hawkins in the 3000m (9:32.97) and freshman Kaitlyn Arciaga in the 800m (2:07.35), as both paced UCLA's entrants, set PRs, and landed in the Bruins' all-time indoor top-10 on those respective events.
Falkowski was the clear highlight for the Bruins during the "Mile City" portion of the meet on Saturday, as he placed first out of 332 runners to cross the finish line in the men's seeded mile. His time of 4:01.52 was a PR and good for No. 9 in UCLA indoor history.
All three of UCLA's entries in that race placed inside the top-15, as Falkowski was proceeded by freshman Arrin Sagiraju (4:02.25, fifth) and sophomore Everett Capelle (4:04.24, 14th).
The Bruins' top mile on the women's side came courtesy of Kaho Cichon, who placed 17th with a time of 4:49.81.
UCLA returns to action next weekend, returning to Albuquerque, N.M. for the New Mexico Collegiate Classic on Feb. 6-7.
Players Mentioned
