University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
NCAA West Regionals
Hastenrath Punches NCAAs Ticket to Highlight Day One of NCAA West First Rounds
May 27, 2026 | Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. โ Shot putter Xavier Hastenrath punched his ticket to the 2026 NCAA Championships and three Bruin runners advanced to quarterfinal rounds in their respective events as the UCLA track & field team got underway at the NCAA West First Rounds on Wednesday at Arkansas's John McDonnell Field.
Hastenrath became the first Bruin to qualify for Outdoor NCAAs, finishing sixth in the men's shot put after hitting a mark of 19.31m (63-4.25). It marked the third time this season that Hastenrath eclipsed the 19-meter mark. He'll officially represent UCLA at the NCAA Championships, which are set to be held from June 10-13 in Eugene. Ore.
Junior sprinter Gabriel Clement II earned an auto-qualification into the next stage of the 400m dash after placing runner-up in his heat and ninth overall with a time of 45.61. Clement's time would have been good enough to win two of the six heats in the first round of the 400m. He'll vie for one of the 12 NCAA-qualifying spots in Friday's quarterfinal.
The Bruins advanced a pair in the men's 400m hurdles first round, as Tamaal Myers (50.34) and Zaire Waring (51.29) both turned in their second-fastest times of the year to finish third in their heats and secure auto-qualifying bids into Friday's quarterfinal. Myers was the eighth-place finisher overall.
UCLA had entries in three other events on Wednesday.
Thrower Jake Stafford was the first Bruin in action at Regionals, placing 36th in the men's hammer throw with a mark of 59.69m (195-10). In the early afternoon, distance runner Arrin Sagiraju checked in at No. 43 with a time of 3:49.18. Finally, junior Michael Haugo registered a 39th place finish in the men's long jump after hitting a mark of 7.01m (23-0).
The NCAA West First Rounds continue on Thursday as the women compete in their first events. UCLA has 15 entries scheduled for tomorrow across the 100m hurdles, 1500, long jump, 100m, pole vault, 400m, 800m, 400m hurdles, 200m, and 10k.
