University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Wraps Up Day One of Pac-12 Championships in Great Shape
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA track and field team posted two wins, had 14 points scorers and will have 12 advance to the finals after competition on day one of the Pac-12 Championships, Saturday at Drake Stadium. After the day, the Bruins are second in the men’s standings and third in the women’s competition.
The first day of the championship was highlighted by a pair of victories. Senior Zibby Boyer won the high jump in a jump off with a mark of 5-11.50. The championship was a career first for the Pasadena native.
Junior Nicholas Scarvelis defended his shot put title with a throw of 64-5.25. The win by Scarvelis marked the 51st straight year UCLA has had an individual winner at the championship meet.
The shot put was once again a strength for the Bruins as freshman Braheme Days was the runner-up with a throw of 63-6. Sophomore Torie Owers on the women’s side was the runner-up with a personal best 55-6.50. That mark improved the ninth best throw all-time at UCLA.
Also improving their top 10 mark in the UCLA annals was senior Derek Eager. In his final conference championship, Eager launched a personal best 233-9 to finish second and hold the sixth best throw in school history.
Scoring some big first day points was senior Alec Faldermeyer in the hammer. The senior finished third with a throw of 209-2. In the women’s long jump, freshman Jessie Maduka soared to a third place finish with a lifetime best leap of 20-7.75.
In the women’s high jump senior Alexis Walker added points to Boyer’s victory with a fifth place jump of 5-10.50.
In his first career 10,000m, junior Lane Werley posted a fifth place finish with a time of 29:45.34. Junior Sergey Suschickh followed in eighth place with a personal best 29:53.36. In the women’s 10,000m, senior Bronte Golick placed eighth with a time of 34:16.37.
Rounding out the scoring for UCLA was senior Mark Sakioka in the pole vault. The senior cleared 16-8.75 to place sixth overall. In the men’s long jump, sophomore Austin Hazel placed eighth with a leap of 24-2.50 while freshman Idrees Bernard followed in ninth with a 23-7.25.
UCLA has 12 advance to Sunday’s finals. In the 800m, junior Nick Hartle posted the top time on the day with a 1:49.81. On the women’s side, senior Ally Courtnall ran a personal best with a time of 2:08.89.
In the men’s 1,500m senior Daniel Herrera used a season best 3:42.17 to advance while Austin O’Neil blitzed to a lifetime best of 3:42.38 to get two Bruins in the final.
Freshman Leon Powell advanced in two events as he will look for points in the 100m after a 10.56 and in the 200m as well with a 21.32.
More freshmen stepped up in the 110m hurdles as Misana Viltz ran a 14.25 and Steele Wasik posted a 14.38 to both make it to Sunday. Senior Tatum Souza advanced in the 100 hurdles with a time of 14.01.
In the 400m hurdles UCLA advanced two in that event as well. Andre Chapman ran a lifetime best 52.42 while Jarrett Gonzales followed with a 53.40. Sophomore Jonny Moniz made the final in the 400m with a 47.94.
The men are currently in second with 50 points, just three off the lead of Oregon while the women are third with 39 points. Oregon leads that competition with 78 points.
Day two of the championships will begin at 9 a.m. with the women’s hammer throw. Senior Ida Storm enters that event with the top mark.