The Sherie L. and Donald G. Morrison UCLA Director of Track & Field/Cross Country 1st Season at UCLA UCLA ‘01
UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame member and Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes returned to UCLA as the new The Sherie L. and Donald G. Morrison UCLA Director of Track & Field/Cross Country on June 17, 2024. Hayes previously served as an assistant coach for the Bruins from 2014-16 and for USC from 2017-24.
Shortly after being named to the top job at UCLA, she was named the USATF Nike Coach of the Year for the 2024 calendar year.
“I am honored to return to UCLA as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. This opportunity represents a full circle moment for me, and I am grateful to Martin Jarmond for trusting me to lead this esteemed program and uphold its strong legacy,” said Hayes. “As Director, I am committed to guiding this program with values rooted in respect, passion, discipline, family, and community engagement. I am ready to embark on this journey, as it brings me back to the joy and excitement I felt 30 years ago on signing day when I first became a Bruin. I’m ready to win some championships alongside our dedicated alumni, staff, student-athletes, and the Bruin fans and supporters!”
A six-time All-American at UCLA from 1996-99, Hayes won seven Pac-10 titles and the 1999 NCAA outdoor title in the 400m hurdles. She led UCLA to threestraight Pac-10 team titles and two-straight NCAA runner-up finishes, and her Bruin teams went 39-0 in dual meets in her career. At the Pac-10 level, Hayes won three-straight 100m hurdles titles from 1996-98 and two-straight 400m hurdles crowns from 1996-97. In 2004, she won Olympic gold, breaking a 16year Olympic record with a winning time of 12.37 in the 100m hurdles. Also that year, she won the 2004 Jesse Owens Award as USA Track & Field’s outstanding female athlete and finished as the No. 1-ranked 100m hurdler in the world. Additionally, she won gold in the 400m hurdles at the 2003 Pan American Games.
In her previous coaching stint at UCLA, Hayes was an assistant sprints, hurdles and relays coach. In her first season in 2014, she coached Brea Buchanan and Trinity Wilson to the NCAA finals in the 100m hurdles. Hayes also guided the women’s 4x100m relay team to the NCAA Championship meets in 2015 and 2016.
“I am excited to bring Joanna back home to UCLA,” remarked the Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond. “Her credentials as an Olympic gold medalist, NCAA Champion, Hall of Fame athlete and award-winning coach speak for itself. Her passion, energy and vision for UCLA track and field make her the right choice to lead this program.”
“Winning has been in Joanna’s DNA, from her high school athletic days, to becoming a champion student-athlete at UCLA and an Olympic gold medalist, to her successful coaching career,” said UCLA Athletics Hall of Famer Jeanette Bolden. “She is now bringing that winning DNA to the men’s and women’s program at UCLA. I could not be happier for Joanna and her family.”
At USC, Hayes earned USTFCCCA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year honors four times, most recently being selected for the 2024 outdoor season with the women after her hurdlers scored 16 of the Trojans’ 25 points at the NCAA Championships, where USC finished 10th. She was the 2023 and 2024 indoor men’s assistant of the year, coaching a pair of Trojans to the top two times in the nation in the 60m hurdles during the 2023 indoor campaign. Her first award came in 2018, when two USC hurdlers won Pac-12 titles and four of her 100m hurdlers advanced to the NCAA Championships.
Hayes’ athletes were among the most successful at USC during her time with the team. Anna Cockrell was a three-time NCAA Champion, 2021 Honda Sports Award Winner, and 2021 Pac-12 Tom Hansen Medal winner before earning a silver medal in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Jasmine Jones was the 2024 Pac-12 Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and won a pair of NCAA titles in 2024, taking the outdoor 400m hurdles title with a school and meet record, and winning the indoor 60m title. Hayes was a volunteer assistant coach in 2021 when the Trojans won the NCAA Women’s Outdoor title.
Olympians Sydney McLaughlin and Rai Benjamin are among the elite athletes Hayes has trained. McLaughlin is the current world record holder in the 400m hurdles, and Benjamin ranks No. 2 in the world and No. 1 in the USA.
Hayes, who graduated from UCLA in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Eric Thomas, and daughters, Zoe and Aly.
CURRAN
Assistant
Coach -
Pole Vault 1st Season at UCLA UCLA ‘22
Former UCLA student-athlete Tate Curran joined the track and field coaching staff on August 1, 2024.
“I’m so excited to have Tate back in Westwood,” said The Sherie L. and Donald G. Morrison Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Joanna Hayes. “He was the ultimate competitor as a vaulter and an incredible teammate; Tate will be a great example for our student-athletes and help carry on our tradition of excellence in this program.”
Curran most recently served as the Director of Track & Field at the Chadwick School in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., for the 2023-24 school year.
As a student-athlete at UCLA, Curran claimed silver at his final Pac-12 Championships in 2022. The pole vaulter cleared 5.01m at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., to finish as the Pac-12 runner-up. The same mark earned Curran an event victory at the 2022 dual meet against USC. Curran won four pole vault competitions during the 2022 indoor and outdoor seasons and had five podium finishes in his final year competing for the Bruins. He was also a point scorer for UCLA at the 2021 Pac-12 Championships, finishing eighth at the Conference meet.
The UCLA pole vaulter competed in 36 meets during his three-year career with the Bruins. Curran earned his bachelor of arts in political science and government from UCLA in June 2022.
SEAN DENARD
Assistant Coach - Throws 4th Season at UCLA Mount Union ‘12
Sean Denard was named to the position of Assistant Coach – Throws on September 24, 2021 and enters his fourth season with the UCLA coaching staff.
“As coach, mentor, and leader of this program and for these student athletes, I want to emphasize the importance of finding balance in life through studying, living, and training at the number one public university in the world, in the greatest city in the world, and at the most successful athletic department in college sports,” said Denard. “Through balance we will discover new levels of excellence and elite performances.” During the 2022-23 campaign with the Bruins, UCLA throwers captured a Pac-12 individual and three All-American honors. Federica Botter set a new outdoor school record in the javelin throw, launching for a mark of 57.81m (189-8) to secure the Conference title. Mayyi Mahama, a second team All-American, landed second all-time in UCLA’s history books in the hammer throw, recording a mark of 68.38m (224-4) to claim third at the Pac-12 Championships. Lyvante Su’emai showed steady improvement throughout the season in the discus, placing fifth at the Conference championships before throwing a PR mark (55.69m, 182-8) in the discus event at outdoor nationals. Freshman thrower Michael Pinckney also shined under Denard’s guidance – in his second meet with UCLA, Pinckney set a new indoor school record in the weight throw (22.05m, 72-04.25). Pinckney also claimed a national title during the summer, winning gold in the hammer throw at the 2023 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in July. He went on to place fifth at the PanAmerican u20 Championships in the hammer before claiming a silver in the shot put event. Aidan Elbettar also had an impressive summer, throwing 53.21m in the men’s discus final at the 2023 NACAC U23 Championship to claim a bronze medal in Costa Rica.
In his first year at UCLA, Denard’s athletes found outstanding success in the ring and on the runway. At the Pac-12 Championships, Lauren McFall secured five points for the Bruin women in the javelin, finishing fourth overall with a mark of 47.15m (154-8). Kris Emig launched a lifetime-best throw of 67.36m (221-0) in the hammer, securing fourth place overall in the competition and solidifying his No. 5 position on UCLA’s alltime list in the event. Jacob Wilson was also impressive in the men’s shot put, as the senior uncorked an effort of 19.28m (63-03.25) for second place overall and eight points for the Bruins.
Freshman Lyvante Su’emai and sophomore Natalie Ramirez competed in the discus event at the NCAA West Preliminaries under Denard’s guidance. Su’emai placed 14th overall with a mark of 54.14m (177-07) and Ramirez threw for a distance of 48.41m (150-10) to place 38th overall.
Before coming to Westwood, Denard most recently served as an Assistant Coach for CSUN Track & Field (2019-21) and has a strong history of elite coaching accomplishments. He has coached six student-athletes to NCAA titles and has 51 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships to his coaching credit.
Denard has also recruited athletes who have garnered 28 All-American accolades, as well as 34 conference and four NCAA individual or team titles. Twenty-two of his athletes have collected Academic All-American awards. Additionally, 16 of Denard’s former athletes or volunteer assistants have gone on to coach at the collegiate level.
Throughout his coaching career, Denard has coached many notable athletes, including Sean Donnelly (Four-time NCAA Division III Champion, Olympic Trials qualifier), Bobbie Goodwin (NCAA Division II Champion), Justin Rodhe (Olympian, Commonwealth Games finalist), and Darien Thornton (NCAA Division II Champion, Olympic Trials qualifier). Denard also had coaching stops at Grand Valley State University (2014-19) and North Central College (2012-14). He graduated from the University of Mount Union in 2012, where he earned NCAA Division III All-America acclaim as a thrower. Denard earned his second master’s degree at UCLA during the 2022-2023 school year.
ANDREW FERRIS
Assistant Coach - Distance 2nd Season at UCLA
Griffith University ‘09
Andrew Ferris joined the UCLA track & field and cross country coaching staff on October 5, 2023, as announced by UCLA Athletics. Ferris enters his second campaign with the Bruins in 2024-25.
During 2023-24, Ferris was responsible for guiding the cross country team and distance runners on the track for the 800m through 10,000m events. In his first season with UCLA track & field, he helped junior Mia Kane capture the Pac-12 individual title in the 3,000m steeplechase. With Ferris’ guidance, senior Michael Mireles finished as the Conference runner-up in men’s 5,000m race. The Bruins also claimed eight marks on UCLA’s all-time top 10 lists in indoor and outdoor distance events.
Ferris boasts 14 All-Americans and 21 champions under his supervision in his NCAA coaching career. He also coaches Maël Gouyette, who will represent France in the men’s 1500m at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Prior to his arrival in Westwood, Ferris served as an assistant coach at Iona University from 2021-23. He coached three All-Americans and saw four school records with the Gaels. Ferris also coached at Wake Forest University from 2017-21. He helped Deacons earn All-America honors eight times, set eight program records and claim four ACC event titles. He mentored Robert Heppenstall en route to five All-America finishes at Wake Forest, as he won three league titles in the 800m before signing a pro contract with the District Track Club in 2019. Heppenstall also set four program records under Ferris in the indoor and outdoor 800m, the indoor 1000m and outdoor 1500m.
In cross country, Ferris helped the Wake Forest men’s program post top-five finishes in back-to-back years (2018-19) for the first time since 2000-01, when there were only nine programs in the ACC. In his first season with the Deacon men’s cross country team (2017), the men improved from eighth to sixth at the conference meet, the highest finish since 2010. Freshman Mitchell Day earned All-ACC honors after finishing 13th to become the program’s first-ever male ACC Freshman of the Year honoree and first All-Conference recipient since 2005.
Other All-ACC honorees under Ferris include Archie Wallis (2019-20) and Johanna Schulz (2019-20), while Aaron Las Heras won a European U-20 title in the 5000m in 2019. Off the track, the men’s program won the Dean’s Cup for highest team GPA three straight years from 2017-19.
Prior to his stint in Winston-Salem, Ferris worked as the Head Coach at Emmanuel College where he coached multiple state and national medalists, including two Australian Steeplechase Champions, two Australian Champion teams, 38 Australian Junior Championship qualifiers and an Oceania Women’s Champion.
Ferris has progressed to a level three coaching qualification, one of the highest accreditations offered in Australia. He was also an Apprenticeship Coach at the Altis World Athletics Center, an elite athlete and coach training organization that improves performances of both athletes and coaches. He also has Level 1 Strength and Conditioning certification through ASCA.
Ferris attended the Ipswich Grammar School where he graduated in 2001. From there, he achieved a Bachelor of Health Science in 2009 from Griffith University in South East Queensland, Australia.
ARMAN “GINO” HALL
Assistant Coach - Sprints 1st Season at UCLA
Florida ‘16
Arman “Gino” Hall, an Olympic Gold Medalist, three-time NCAA Champion, and 17-time All-American, joined the UCLA track & field coaching program as an assistant coach in September 2024 as part of Joanna Hayes’s inaugural staff.
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Gino to our staff,” said Hayes. “His exceptional coaching skills, combined with his Olympic-level athletic experience, align perfectly with our program’s goals. I look forward to seeing him work with our student-athletes.”
Hall was most recently an assistant coach at Arizona State for the 2023-24 season, helping the Sun Devils reach a top-10 ranking in both the men’s 200m and men’s 400m. Prior to his time in Tempe, he was named the 2023 USTFCCCA NJCAA Division I Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year at New Mexico Junior College after helping the Thunderbirds to team National Championships on both the men’s and women’s sides.
Earlier in his career, Hall made coaching stops at Miami Killian High School (2021-22), Arizona State (2019-21), and Florida (2017-18).
Hall’s decorated career as a sprinter includes a 2016 OIympic Gold Medal in the 4x400, a 2013 gold medal at the World Championships in the 4x400, two gold medals at the 2012 World Junior Championships (4x400, 4x100), and a pair of gold medals at the 2011 World Youth Championships (400m, medley relay).
As a student-athlete at Florida, Hall helped Florida to three SEC Championships and was the 2014 SEC Indoor Men’s Runner of the Year. He claimed three NCAA titles (400m, 4x100, 4x400) during his time in Gainesville, and finished his career with five individual marks inside the program’s all-time top-10 lists.
In 2023-24, Hall helped a pair of Sun Devil sprinters break program records (Kaleb Simpson, 100m; Adriana Tatum, 100m, 200m), while the men consistently sported a top-10 USTFCCCA squad ranking all year.
In his one season at NMJC, Hall’s sprinters and hurdlers combined for four national titles across the men’s and women’s outdoor seasons. In total, Hall coached nine national champions and 28 first-team All-Americans across the sprints and hurdles at both the indoor and outdoor NJCAA National Championships. His student-athletes rewrote the school record books that year, gaining 14 new program records. Under his tutelage, every single sprinter and hurdler PR’d in at least one event during the 2022-23 campaign.
Prior to NMJC, Hall helped Miami Killian High School to a Florida State Championship for the 2021-22 school year. He served two years as a volunteer assistant at ASU in his first stint in Tempe, and got his start in the coaching ranks as a volunteer assistant at his alma mater in 2017-18.
Hall earned his Bachelor of Arts in cultural studies from Florida in 2016.
MECCA McGLASTON
Assistant Coach - Sprints/Hurdles 1st Season at UCLA
USC ‘22
UCLA added former USC hurdler Mecca McGlaston to the track & field coaching staff, The Sherie L. and Donald G. Morrison UCLA Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Joanna Hayes announced Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
“I’m extremely happy to have Coach McGlaston on board with us at UCLA,” said Hayes. “She is going to bring high energy and a high level of understanding to our student-athletes. Mecca is a huge addition and will be a great benefit to our program.”
McGlaston ran for the Trojans from 2018-22, winning two NCAA team titles in 2018 and 2021. She was an eight-time All-American as a student-athlete; the hurdler holds one indoor (60m hurdles) and two outdoor (100m hurdles, 4x100m relay) top 10 marks for her former program. McGlaston also served as the Track & Field Team Captain from 2021-2022 and was a student coach during the 2022 season.
Prior to joining the Bruin coaching staff, McGlaston worked as a communication consultant at Kaiser Permanente beginning in September 2022. She led organization-wide projects, developed and implemented communication strategies and conducted research to help aid and enhance communication at the organization.
McGlaston earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in cinematic arts, Master of Science in Project Management and Master of Arts in Studies in Law from USC.
NICK NEWMAN
Assistant Coach - Jumps/Multis 1st Season at UCLA
Nick Newman joined the Bruin coaching staff on July 15, 2024, the Sherie L. and Donald G. Morrison Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Joanna Hayes announced.
“It’s awesome to have Coach Nick Newman back on the west coast,” said Hayes. “He has a proven track record of delivering results and bringing the best out of his studentathletes. I’m excited for us to get to work and carry on the legacy of the UCLA jumps and multis program.”
One of the top jumps coaches in the country, Newman lands in Westwood after a two-year stint at Auburn University. His Tigers captured seven top-5 finishes at the SEC championships, including student-athletes on the podium in the outdoor men’s decathlon, women’s indoor heptathlon and the women’s indoor triple jump. Newman also helped guide Sanaa Barnes to a fifth-place finish in the women’s high jump at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Newman spent one year at Tennessee, two at USC and three at California prior to his time in Alabama. During his NCAA tenure, Newman has coached his student-athletes to 25 All-American honors, five individual conference titles and two NCAA titles. Following the 2022 season, Newman was also named the USTFCCCA National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year.
While on Rocky Top, Newman led freshman Wayne Pinnock to a sweep of both the indoor and outdoor NCAA titles in men’s long jump and had three long jumpers earn First Team All-American status at NCAA Outdoors. Newman also coached the NCAA Indoors silver medalist in the event, Carey McLeod. On the women’s side, Charisma Taylor captured bronze at indoor nationals in the women’s triple jump, also under Newman’s tutelage. During the 2021 season at USC, the Trojan jumps group scored 61.5 points at Pac-12 Outdoors en route to capturing the women’s conference title and finishing second in the men’s standings. Newman then qualified five student-athletes for NCAAs, a group that pushed Southern California to its second women’s national title in three seasons. Coached by Newman, the duo of Ernie Sears and Morgan Smalls led the jumps group with First Team All-American performances in high jump at both national meets. In addition to the national accolades, Newman’s athletes also captured the conference titles in both women’s high jump and men’s triple jump during the season.
In three seasons at Cal-Berkeley, Newman coached 10 student-athletes to top-10 marks on Cal’s indoor and outdoor lists. He guided Tuomas Kaukolahti to back-to-back Pac-12 titles in the men’s triple jump as well as multiple All-American honors.
Originally from England, Newman represented his country in two international competitions and achieved a personal-best long jump of 7.80m (25-7.00) in 2012.
WELLINGTON ZAZA
Assistant Coach - Sprints/Hurdles/ Jumps
1st Season at UCLA Auburn ‘17
Wellington Zaza joined the UCLA track & field coaching staff in September 2024.
Zaza most recently coached at Syracuse, working as a volunteer sprints and hurdles coach with the Orange during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
“I am excited to welcome Coach Zaza to our staff,” said Hayes. “His dynamic energy and enthusiasm for teaching will greatly impact our student-athletes. With his extensive background as both an athlete and a coach, he will bring valuable experience and benefits to our program.”
Prior to his time in Syracuse, he made volunteer coaching stops at Youngstown State (2019) and Alabama (2018-19). He began his coaching career as a graduate sprints and hurdles assistant at his alma mater, Auburn, from 2017-18.
Zaza has represented his native Liberia on the international level, making his debut at the 2014 World Junior Championships and setting a then-African junior record in the 110m hurdles at 13.38 en route to a fourth-place finish. He later earned a bronze medal in the 110m hurdles at the 2018 African Championships.
Over two seasons as a student-athlete at Auburn, Zaza tallied five USTFCCCA All-America honors, including First Team status in the 4x400m relay as a senior in 2017. In his debut season with the Tigers, Zaza garnered Second Team All-America honors in the 110mH and 4x100m relay.
Hall earned his Bachelor of Arts in public administration from Auburn in 2017. He added a master’s degree at Alabama in 2018.
MICHAEL PHILLIPPY
Director of Operations
1st Season at UCLA
Southern Illinois University
Princeton ‘22
2024 (Cross Country)
TRISTAN AMELL
6-4 / Sophomore Distance
Le Vésinet, France
Santa Monica HS
Did not compete for UCLA during the cross country season.
2024 (Track & Field)
Competed in three indoor and four outdoor meets, running the 800m and 1500m races … Posted a season-best 1:52.54 at the Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational, winning the event at the home meet … Finished 24th in the 1500m at the Pac-12 Championships.
2023 (Cross Country)
Competed in one meet during his freshman season … Was the fourth scorer for the Bruins at the LMU South Bay Twilight, running a 25:23.5 in the 8K race for 14th place.
High School
Attended Coudersport High School, College Bridge Academy, Stanford Online High School and Santa Monica High School in his pre-college years … Ran Cross Country and Track & Field … Was a Millrose Games Mile Qualifier … Also an All-American at New Balance Nationals (Outdoors) in the distance medley relay and mile … All-American at New Balance Indoors in the 4x Mile … Qualified for Nike Cross Nationals … Earned a Bronze Medal at the New Jersey state championships in the 1600m … CIF qualifier in the 4x400m, 800m, 1600m and 3200m events … Earned silver at CIF states in the 4x400m relay … Named New Jersey’s “Sophomore of the Year.”
Personal
Born in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, to parents Grace and Chris … Lists Kobe Bryant as the famous athlete he most admires … Outside of running, says he “absolutely loves everything about rock climbing” … Used to be one of Canada’s top-ranked chess players … Chose to attend UCLA because “it is a perfect combination of athletic, academic, and social experience” … Plans to major in European language & transcultural studies.
2024
JOSH BAILEY
6-5
/ Sophomore Hurdles
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Holy Names Catholic
Ran the 110m hurdles at the Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner Kersee Iniviational in late March, recording his lone mark of the season with a fifth-place finish (15.88).
2023
Did not compete for the Bruins.
2022
Competed in five indoor meets, running in the 400m, 60m hurdles and 4x400m relay.
High School
Attended Holy Names Catholic High School … Also competed for Border City Athletics Club … Owns lifetime-best times of 14.21 (110H) and 56.75 (400H) … 10-time Ontario Provincial medalist … 2020 New Balance Nationals Indoor qualifier in the championship division … 2021 Ontario Open finalist and 2019 Canadian Junior semifinalist.
Personal
From Windsor, Ontario, Canada … Parents:Jack Bailey and Terry Fancsy … Has an older brother, Jake, and a twin sister, Jesse … Decided to attend UCLA “because of its equally prestigious athletic and academic programs.” … Enjoys swimming, working out, and listening to music ... Aspires to become a medical doctor.
USC (2024)
DI’NIKO
BATES
6-2 / Senior Hurdles
Oakland, Calif.
Saint Mary’s College HS
USC / California
Spent one season at USC ... Reached the finals of the 110mH at the Pac-12 Championships, ultimately finishing eighth ... Runner-up in the 110mH at the UCLA-USC dual meet ... Won the 110mH at the 44 Farms Team Invitational ... Also won the 110mH at the 2024 Trojan Invite ... Made his USC debut at the 2024 Spokane Sports Showcase, finishing runner-up in the 60mH.
California (2022-23)
Competed in parts of the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the California track program ... He reached the 2023 NCAA West Preliminary Rounds in the 110m hurdles, after finishing third at the 2023 Pac-12 Championships in the event with a PR of 13.88 ... During the 2023 indoor season, he ran 7.87 in the 60m hurdles, fifth all-time by a Golden Bear ... Was limited to four outdoor meets in 2022, winning the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.54 at the Aztec Invitational.
High School
Bates is a 2021 graduate of St. Mary’s College High in Oakland, Calif. ... He won the 300m hurdles and took second in the 110m hurdles at the 2021 Nor Cal Championships ... He placed third in both the 300m and 110m hurdles at the 2021 Arcadia Invitational ... In 2019, he competed in the 110m and 400m hurdles at the USAFT Junior Olympics ... He also competed in the 100m and 300m hurdles at the CIF North Coast Section Championships.
Personal
Born in 2003 … Mother’s name is Monet ... Has two siblings, Sasha and Mykel … His hobbies include travel and shopping … Favorite actor is Michael Rainey Jr. ... Favorite musical artist is Lil Baby ... Favorite movie is A Bronx Tale.
2024
Did not compete for the Bruins.
JOEL BENGTSSON
6-1 / Graduate Hurdles
Landskrona, Sweden
Malmo Idrottsgymasium
UT-Arlington
University of Texas, Arlington (2020-23)
2023 WAC Outdoor Champion in the 100mH and three-time conference champion in the indoor 60mH (2023 in the WAC, 2020-21 in the Sun Belt) ... Second Team Outdoor All-American in 2022 in the 110mH ... Appeared at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships, 2022 European Championships, 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships, and 2021 NCAA Outdoor Preliminary Round ... Finished his career at UTSA as the school record holder in the indoor 60mH (7.68 at the 2023 WAC Indoor Championships) and No. 2 time in the outdoor 110mH (13.54).
2023 (at UTSA)
Indoor- Broke the program and WAC record in the 60m hurdles at the WAC Indoor Championships with a PR of 7.68, claiming the gold medal … Was the lone Maverick to compete at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, where he ran in the 60m hurdles and just missed qualifying for a spot in the finals … Named the WAC Track Athlete of the Week twice during the indoor season … Competed in four regular season meets … At the JD Martin Invitational, posted a personal best of 6.90 in the 60m and placed first in the 60m hurdles with a time of 7.80 … Placed second in the 60m hurdles at the Howie Ryan Invitational and the Texas Tech Open ... Outdoor-Claimed the conference title in the 110m hurdles after breaking the WAC record, which had stood for nearly 30 years, with a time of 13.64 … Named the WAC Track Athlete of the Week twice during the outdoor season … Competed in four regular season meets … Placed first in the 110m hurdles at the Clyde Hart Classic and the Sooner Invitational & Multis … Finished seventh in the 110m hurdles at the 95th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.
2022 (at UTSA)
Broke the program record in the 60m hurdles at the Texas Tech Open & Multis, placing first with a PR of 7.78 … Set a PR at the Sun Belt Championships in the 200m with a time of 21.55... Outdoor - Ran the second fastest 110m hurdles time in program history at the 94th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays with a PR of 13.54 … Placed third in the 110m hurdles at the Sun Belt Championships (13.80) … All-Conference Third Team … Appeared at the NCAA Championships and competed in the 110m hurdles … Named USTFCCA Outdoor Second Team All-American for his performance in the 110m hurdles … Claimed the Swedish National Championship in the 110m hurdles with a lifetime best of 13.52 … Competed for Sweden in the European Championships.
2021 (at UTSA)
Indoor -Won the Sun Belt Conference 60m hurdles individual title for the second-consecutive year while posting the fourth-fastest time in school history of 7.94 … Named to Sun Belt First Team … One of four individual winners from UTA at the SBC meet … Narrowly missed the podium at the Ted Nelson Invitational with a time of 8.07, only 0.01 seconds behind third place... Outdoor - Competed at the NCAA Division I West Preliminary Round meet in the 110m hurdles … Named to Sun Belt Third Team … Placed third at the Sun Belt Conference Championships with a time of 13.87w (+2.5 m/s) … Won three consecutive regular-season meets at the UT Arlington Invitational, North Texas Classic and Sooner Invite … Set a personal-record time of 14.10 at the 93rd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays … Placed second with a time of 41.61 at the Sooner Invite.
2020 (at UTSA)
Indoor - Crowned the Sun Belt Conference individual champion in the 60m hurdles … In the finals, matched his season-best time of 8.02, which ranks fifth in school history … Was one of just two freshmen to win an individual conference title at the meet ... Also ran a 8.02 at the Texas Tech Shootout … Competed in five meets in his inaugural season... Outdoor season canceled due to coronavirus pandemic.
BENNETT BOOTH-GENTHE
Graduate Student Distance
Pottstown, Pa.
Hill School
Villanova
Attended Villanova in the fall before transfering to UCLA.
Pomona-Pitzer (2020-24)
Division III indoor national champion in the mile as a senior in 2024 … Became the 20th men’s track & field athlete for the Sagehens to win a national title … Posted a winning time of 4:04.23 in the championship race after coming in second overall in the preliminary heats a day earlier … Four-time Division III All-American with four career top-four NCAA finishes … Runner-up at the NCAA Championships in the mile indoors in 2023 and the 800 meters outdoors in 2024 … Also tallied a fourth place outdoor finish in the 800 meters in 2023 … Four-time SCIAC individual champion outdoors … Won two gold medals each in the 800 meters and the 1500 meters, including pulling off a double in those events in 2023 … Won his first SCIAC championship in the 800 meters in 2022 and added another in the 1500 meters in 2024 … Member of two 4x400 meter relay teams which won conference medals (silver in 2023, bronze in 2022) … His lifetime best marks in the 800 meters (1:48.08) and the mile (4:00.33) came during his senior year.
Personal
Born in 2001 … One of four children of Catherine Booth and Terri Genthe … Siblings are Cal, Joy and Alia … Graduated from Pomona College in 2024.
2024 (Cross Country)
AARON CANTU
5-8
/ Sophomore Distance
Sargus, Calif.
Newbury Park HS
Competed in three races for the Bruins ... Appeared at the Big Ten Championships in Savoy, Ill. on Nov. 1 (26:27.0).
2024 (Track & Field)
Did not compete for the Bruins.
2023 (Cross Country)
Did not compete for the Bruins.
High School
Attended Newbury Park High School where he ran cross country and track & field ... Two-time Team Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) Champion with Newbury Park ... Placed 21st in the state at the 2022 CIF State Cross Country Championships, running 15:39.9 as a scoring runner for his team.
Personal
Born in Valencia, Calif., to parents Elena and Marlon ... Has three brothers, Alexander, Andrew and Adrian ... Lists Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods and Lionel Messi as the famous athletes he most admires ... Hobbies include playing basketball, pickleball, soccer, finding new music, and attending festivals ... Describes his greatest athletic thrill as anchoring his team to the NXN championship during the 2022 season ... Decided to attend UCLA “because of its renowned athletic programs and facilities, offering opportunities for top-level competition along with a strong academic reputation that provides a well-rounded college experience” ... Plans to major in biology with a career objective to become a sports medical physician.
Villanova (2024)
2024 (Cross Country)
EVERETT CAPELLE
6-1 / Freshman
Distance
San Juan Capistrano, Calif. St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
2024
Competed in one of UCLA’s five events during his debut season ... Appeared in the season-opening tri-meet with UC Santa Barbara and UC Riverside in Big Bear, Calif. on Aug. 30, pacing the Bruin men with a fourth-place finish at 18:27.08.
2024 (Cross Country)
Did not compete for UCLA.
High School
JOSHUA CHU
5-7 / Freshman
Distance
Rescue, Calif.
Ponderosa High School
Attended Ponderosa High School, competing in track & field and cross country for all four of his pre-collegiate years … Also played basketball for two years at Ponderosa as a point guard … Earned Footlocker XC Honorary All-American and was the Footlocker West Regional Champion … Three-time FVL XC League Champion … Two-time CIF SJS Cross Country Section champion, six-time FVL track league champion, three-time FVL XC League MVP, FVL Track & Field MVP, and CIF SJS 3200m Champion … Placed fourth in California in the 3200m … Was a Nike Outdoor Nationals 5k All-American, placing fourth … Competed at the Footlocker West Regional, Footlocker Nationals, Nike Indoor Nationals, New Balance Indoor Nationals, and Nike Outdoor Nationals outside of his high school competitions.
Personal
Born to parents Tracy and David Chu … Has one younger brother, Nathan … Lists Kobe Bryant & Jakob Ingebrigsten as athletes he admires, saying “both have achieved great things by working extremely hard and I admire their mentalities” … Says his greatest athletic thrill was “winning the Footlocker West Regional. I went in believing I could do it & breaking the tape for the first time with the huge crowd was a moment I will never forget” … His hobbies and interests include running, art, coffee, biking and hiking … A fun fact about Josh is that he can solve a Rubik’s cube and used to go to competitions for solving them … Chose UCLA because, “I love the diversity of LA and the history of greatness that stems from the university. I really like the coaches and staff as well and believe this is the best place to succeed” … His aunt, Canny, also attended UCLA … Plans to major in computational and systems biology with the objective of working as a cardiologist or cardiothoracic surgeon.
GABRIEL CLEMENT II
5-10 / Sophomore Sprints
Kaplan, La. Kaplan High School
Competed in four events during his debut indoor season (60m, 200m, 300m, 4x400m) … Ran the anchor leg in the men’s 4x400m relay that jumped to sixth on UCLA’s all-time top 10 list (3:07.37) … Did not compete for the Bruins during the outdoor campaign.
High School
Attended Kaplan High School, running track and playing soccer for three years while also competing on the football team for two years ... Individual honors included 2022 state runner-up in the 400m, 2022 Nike All-American, 2022 Junior Olympic runner-up in the 4x400m in the 17-18 age division (3:10.44), 2023 400m indoor state runner-up … Won the 100m, 200m and 400m races at the 2023 state championship meet … Earned a bronze medal in the 400m (47.01) at the 2023 AAU Junior Olympics and placed fourth in the 4x100.
Personal
Born in Lafayette, La., to parents Gabriel and Rakaela … Father ran track for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette … Has one older brother, Darien, and two younger brothers, Kodi and Kaleb … Interests include video games and a love for reading, as well as going out and enjoying new things … Also loves fishing, saying it is “so peaceful” … Describes his greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill as the state meet where he won all major sprint events … Lists Erin Brown as the athlete he most admires … Decided to attend UCLA because “schooling has always been a major thing instilled in my family and posed with the opportunity to attend the number one public school in the nation was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Not only that, but the weather is absolutely amazing compared to the super-hot dry temperature of Louisiana” … Plans to major in pre-medicine.
Merritt College (2022-24)
SHAMAR
COOK
6-4 / Junior Jumps
Alameda, Calif. Alameda HS Merritt College
Spent his first two collegiate seasons at Merritt College in Oakland, Calif. ... Competed for the basketball and track and field teams at Merritt ... Made his T&F debut on Feb. 23, 2024, winning the high jump at the Chabot Opener ... Was the 2024 Big 8 Champion in the high jump (2.05m) ... Finished first in the high jump at the 2024 3C2A Northern California Trials and Championships, and placed third in the 3C2A California State Championships ... Won high jump four times during his debut season ... Started 23 games and averaged 9.0 points during his freshman season on the basketball team.
High School
Attended Alameda High School in Alameda, Calif. ... Did not compete in track ... Earned three varsity letters in basketball ... Was a first team all-league choice.
Personal
Full name: Shamar James Cook ... Born in 2004 in Berkeley, Calif. ... Parents are Shanee and Sean Cook ... Has two older siblings, Tori and Sean II ... Decided to attend UCLA because “it’s always been my dream school” ... Admires Kyrie Irving and Paul George ... Enjoys playing and watching basketball in his free time ... Didn’t start competing in track until February 2024 ... His brother, Sean, attended UCLA.
2024 (Cross Country)
MARK CORTES
5-9 / Sophomore Distance
Temecula, Calif.
Great Oak HS
Raced in UCLA’s first two events of the year ... Placed No. 15 in the season-opening tri-meet with UC Santa Barbara and UC Riverside with a time of 19:04.62 ... Also raced at the Gans Creek Classic hosted by Missouri ... named to the Fall 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
2024 (Track & Field)
Did not compete during the indoor season … Ran three races during the outdoor campaign … Placed fifth in the 3000m race at the USC Dual Meet in which the Bruins claimed spots one through five … Ran the 5000m event at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival.
2023 (Cross Country)
Competed in three races during his freshman season … Made his UCLA debut at the Texas A&M Arturo Barrios Invitational … Competed at the Pac-12 Championships, running a 26:29.4 for 75th place … Placed 177th at the NCAA West Regionals with a 33:17.4 in the 10k race.
High School
Attended Great Oak High School, running cross country and track and field all four years during his time there ... Lettered four times each in both sports ... Earned individual honors (All-CIF, All-League) during his high school career, and contributed to Great Oak’s Division I California State Championship.
Personal
Born in Riverside, Calif., to parents Frank and Florina ... Has two older siblings, Isaac and Fatima, and a twin brother Ramses who also runs for UCLA ... Decided to attend UCLA for “the amazing campus life and prestigious academic history”... Describes his greatest athletic thrill as “looking at the timer and knowing you’re hitting your pace, while feeling comfortable at the same time” ... Lists Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Lionel Messi as famous athletes he admires ... Outside of running, his hobbies include soccer, basketball, spike ball, ping pong and watching movies ... A fun fact about Mark, he can name all the countries of the world on a blank map.
2024 (Cross Country)
RAMSES CORTES
6-0 / Sophomore Distance
Temecula, Calif. Great Oak HS
Did not compete for the Bruins ... Named to the Fall 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
2024 (Track & Field)
Did not compete for the Bruins.
2023 (Cross Country)
Ram two races in his frosh year ... Made his UCLA debut at the LMU South Bay Twilight.
High School
Attended Great Oak High School, running varsity cross country and track & field all four years there ... Earned second-team all-state in cross country in 2022 ... Helped Great Oak win the 2022 CIF Division I State Cross Country Championship, running 15:32.7 to place 16th in the state ... Was his high school’s top-finisher at the 2021 state championship meet when the team earned state runner-up.
Personal
Born in Riverside, Calif., to parents Frank and Florina ... Has an older brother, Isaac, and older sister, Fatima ... His twin brother Mark also runs for the Bruins ... Also interested in basketball, football, spikeball, hiking, and says he is a “big fan of roller coasters”... Majoring in physiological science with a career objective of becoming an anesthesiologist or pediatrician.
2024 (Cross Country)
PATRICK CURULLA
6-0 / Senior Distance Livermore, Calif. De La Salle HS
Competed in all five of UCLA’s races for the season, the lone Bruin on the men’s side to do so ... Was UCLA’s third finisher at the Gans Creek Classic (24:30.8) and Bill Dellinger Invite (24:24.1) ... One of two Bruin men to compete at the NCAA West Regionals, finishing the 10k in 30:59.3 ... named to the Fall 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
2024 (Track & Field)
Entered five meets combined over the indoor and outdoor seasons ... Runner-up in the 3000m (8:55.64) in the USC Dual Meet ... Placed sixth in the 10k at the 2024 Bob Larsen Distance Carnival at UCLA.
2023 (Cross Country)
Scored in all three appearances in his junior campaign … Ran a 24:22.3 at the Bill Dellinger Invitational for 26th place overall, making him the fastest Bruin runner on the day … Also scored at the NCAA West Regionals, where he finished 118th with a 10k time of 31:37.4 …
2023 (Track & Field)
Ran two races during the outdoor track and field season… Placed fourth in the 3000m race at the USC Dual Meet, running a season-best 8:48.45 in the event… Captured third place in the 5000m race at the Chris Rinne Twilight, crossing in 15:06.75.
2022 (Cross Country)
Appeared in two meets for the Bruins… Ran a season-best 24:36.6 in the 8000m race at the Bill Dellinger Invite; UCLA claimed a third-place team finish at the Oregonhosted meet.
2021 (Cross Country)
Competed in three meets as a true freshman this past cross country season … Made his UCLA debut at the Mammoth Tri-Meet, where he finished 10th overall with a 5k time of 17:19.0 … Finished in 36th place at the Highlander Invitational as the Bruins’ third runner, clocking a time of 24:49.3 on the 8k course … Made his postseason debut at the Pac-12 Championships, finishing 52nd overall with a time of 25:51.1.
High School
2019 CIF North Coast Section Champion in cross country … Ran 14:55.2 on the threemile course to win the section title as a junior in 2019 … Posted top-12 finishes in each of his eight cross country races in 2019 and went on to finish eighth at the 2019 CIF State Meet, clocking a time of 15:15.0 on the 5k course … Most recently, picked up six individual or relay victories in his senior track season, including an undefeated stretch in the 1600m … Won all four of his 1600m races in 2021, including a victory at the Tri-Valley Track Championships, which saw him post a personal-best time of 4:17.54 … Finished fifth in the 3200m at the Dublin Social Distance Fiesta, securing a personal-best time of 9:10.18 … Curulla competed in four races in a shortened spring cross country season in 2021 and earned victories at three meets … Posted a personal-best three-mile time of 14:46.2 for a victory at the Tri-Valley Cross Country Meet of Champions.
Personal
Born in Fremont, Calif., to parents Sharon and Rick Curulla … Has an older sister, Christine, and a younger brother, Brennan … Decided to attend UCLA because, “UCLA’s world-renowned academics and athletics paired with a beautiful campus in a vibrant city offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I could not pass up” … Majoring in Business Economics at UCLA … Admires Damian Lillard, Kobe Bryant, and Darren Waller … Says he will always cherish the accomplishment of winning NCS as a team and individual his junior year, a dream his team had been working towards for three years … Enjoys hiking barbecuing, and playing any and all sports.
2024 (Cross Country)
HARRISON DANCE
6-2 / Junior Distance
Saratoga, Calif.
Sartoga HS
Did not compete for UCLA ... Named to the Fall 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
2024 (Track & Field)
Made his only indoor appearance at the University of Washington Invitational in Late January, running 4:10.72 in the mile… Ran three races during the outdoor season… Placed third in both the 3000m and 3000m steeplechase at the annual rivalry dual meet against USC.
2023 (Cross Country)
Toed the line in all five races in his sophomore season … Was the third scorer for the Bruins in four of these appearances … UCLA’s top scorer at the Texas A&M Arturo Barrios Invitational… Making his season debut at the LMU South Bay Twilight, he placed 9th overall with an 8k time of 25:16.0 … Made his postseason debut at the Pac-12 Championships, he ran a 24:37.4 for 44th place in the conference … Wrapped up the season at the NCAA West Regionals, finishing 107th and scoring third for UCLA.
2023 (Track & Field)
Competed in three 1500m races during the outdoor track and field season… Recorded his season-best in the event at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival on March 24 in Drake Stadium, running a 3:52.40… Placed fifth in the event at the USC Dual Meet.
2022 (Cross Country)
Did not compete for the Bruins.
2024
DAVIS DAVIS-LYRIC
6-0 / Sophomore Hurdles
Upland, Calif.
Upland
High
Appeared in nine indoor races during his debut season with the Bruins… Tied the tenth-fastest indoor 60m hurdle mark (8.08) in school history at the Kenn Shannon Invite on Feb. 23… Competed in eight events during the outdoor campaign… Recorded the second-best mark in the 110m hurdles (14.32) at the Pac-12 Championships, finishing sixth.
High School
Attended Upland High, competing in track and field all four years… Earned four varsity letters (2020-2023) as a hurdler… Member of the 4x110 shuttle hurdle relay team that set the all-time California state record (56.77) in 222)… 2022 CIF California State runner-up in 110 hurdles… Named 2023 first team All-Baseline League, All CIF, All State, and the Inland Empire Track and Field Athlete Of The Year… Won all major meets in the 110H during his 2023 campaign: Arcadia Invite (13.85), Mt. SAC Relays - 110H (14.04) and 300H (38.14), Baseline league - 110H (13.86) and 300H (37.93), CIFSS D1 (13.87), CIF Masters (13.89) and CIF California State Champion in 110 Hurdles (13.83 – PR).
Personal
Born in San Bernardino, Calif., to parents Cheree and Day… Goes by “L”... Has three older sisters, Aubree, Alexxus and Baby Dae… Outside of sports, his main interests are video games and animals… Describes his greatest athletic thrill to date as “winning the 2023 CIF California State Championship in the 110 hurdles”… Lists Dominique Arnold as the famous athlete he most admires… Decided to attend UCLA because “academically it is incredible, athletically it is rich in tradition, and I am just thankful to be a part of greatness”… Plans to major in Biology with the career objective to become a veterinarian.
2024 (Cross Country)
DEV
DOSHI
5-7 / Freshman
Distance
Newbury Park, Calif. Newbury Park HS
Did not compete for the Bruins in the fall.
High School
Four-year varsity letter athlete in track and cross country… Helped Newbury Park to cross country team national titles in 2021 and 2022… Won team state championships in 2021 and 2022… 3x CIF All-State Runner (2021, 2022, 2023)… 2024 CIF Southern Section Athlete of the Year… Marmonte League Runner of the Year and individual champion in 2023… 4x Marmonte League Team Champions (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023).
Personal
From Newbury Park, Calif., where his parents Satyen and Sejal reside… Has a younger sister, Rayna… Lists Tom Brady as an athlete he admires… Says his greatest athletic thrill was winning the cross country national championships in back-to-back years… His hobbies and interests include “living life to the fullest”… Chose UCLA “for its prestige in athletics and academics”… Plans to major in business economics, with the career objective of becoming an entrepreneur and “building something with a lasting legacy” ... Can speak three languages.
2024 (Cross Country)
ANDREAS
DYBDAHL
6-1 / Freshman
Distance
Santa Barbara, Calif. Santa Barbara HS
Did not compete for the Bruins in the fall.
High School
Attended Santa Barbara High School, where he competed in cross country and track & field for all four years… Was a two-time CIF State Champion in the 1600m… Also was the CIF Finals Champion in Cross Country… Helped Santa Barbara to a Division II Team State Championship title.
Personal
Born to parents Sven and Amanda in Singapore… Has two younger siblings, sister Sienna and brother Kristian… Lists his greatest athletic thrill as “winning the California State Championships for the first time”… Admires Jakob Ingebrigtsen… His hobbies and interests include skiing, traveling and going to the beach… A fun fact about Andreas, “I’m half New Zealand and half Norwegian but I was born in Singapore and lived there for six years”… Chose UCLA because “I see a very promising future for the UCLA Cross Country and Track and Field team with the help of Coach Ferris. I want to be a part of the rise and return of UCLA running. It’s also a great combination of academics and athletics”… Planning to major in Business Economics with a career objective of becoming an investment banker.
Did not compete during the indoor season … UCLA’s top hammer thrower during the outdoor season, claiming nine of the top 10 marks during the 2024 campaign for the Bruins … Jumped into first on the program’s all-time record list, throwing 71.03m (233-00) at the Pac-12 Championships to place third in the Conference … Became the first Bruin in school history to break the 70-meter mark … Placed 16th at the NCAA Championships (67.70m) in June.
2023
Appeared in two meets during the indoor season … Threw a season-best mark in the weight throw (18.58m, 60-11.50) at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational, placing seventh in the meet … With the throw, Emig landed at 10th all-time on UCLA’s indoor top 10 list ... Threw hammer in eight outdoor meets with the Bruins … Claimed the top seven marks of UCLA’s season in the event … Made his debut at the Ben Brown Invitational in March, placing fourth in the hammer throw … Claimed first place at the Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational (65.32m, 214-04) … Hit his season-best at the USC Dual Meet at home, throwing a teambest 67.23m (220-07) against the rival Trojans … Placed second at the meet ... Finished eighth in the Conference, throwing 65.93m at the Pac-12 Championships … Placed 17th in the region at the NCAA West Prelims in late May.
2022
Threw hammer at eight outdoor meets during his freshman season with the Bruins, picking up wins in the event in the West Coast Relays (65.80m, 215-10) and Ben Brown Invite (63.61m, 208-08) ... Set a new collegiate-best mark of 67.36m (22100) at the Pac-12 Championships in May, placing fourth in the league with his throw ... That mark also cracked the all-time top 10 list for the Bruins.
2021 (De Anza Community College)
Third-ranked hammer thrower at the intercollegiate level … Competed for De Anza Community College … Threw in four meets in 2020, picking up a pair of individual victories and five top-4 finishes … Picked up wins in the hammer (45.93m, 150-8) and shot put (13.25m, 43-05.75) at the 2020 ARC Beaver Relays … Took second in the hammer at the Chabot Relays with a season-best mark of 48.90m (160-5).
High School
Competed for Los Altos HS … Picked up nine top-5 finishes in the shot put as a senior in 2019, including a then-personal-best mark of 52-04.25 at the CIF Central Coast Section Finals … Secured five top-5 finishes in the discus as a senior … Finished seventh in the discus at the SCVAL-DAL Finals with a mark of 129-8.
Personal
Born in Mountain View, Calif., to parents Marika and George Emig … Decided to attend UCLA for the perpetual success of the throws program … Lists his greatest athletic thrill as letting the hammer go and knowing it’s a good one before it even lands … Admires hammer thrower Nick Miller.
Furman
JACK FALKOWSKI
5-11 / Freshman Distance
Manasquan, N.J. Christian Brothers Academy
Attended Furman University for fall 2024 ... Did not officially compete for the Paladins; in his lone action, he ran unattached in the Furman Invitational, placing 24th in a 113-man 6k field with a time of 18:42.7.
High School / Club
Attended Christian Brothers Academy in Middletown, N.J. ... Won a pair of New Jersey state team titles in cross country ... Was a two-time all-state pick ... Three-time Monmouth County and Shore Conference champion.
Personal
Full name: Jack James Falkowski ... Born in 2005 in Tom’s River, N.J. ... Parents are Abby and Brian Falkowski ... Has two brothers, Owen and Wyatt ... Decided to attend UCLA because of “the renowned academic reputation and close environment with Los Angeles” ... Cites winning back-to-back state championships as his greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill ... Admires Cole Hocker ... Enjoys surfing and hanging out with friends in his free time ... Plans on majoring in math/economics.
2024 (Cross Country)
CONOR GIBSON
6-5 / Junior Distance
Torrance, Calif.
West Torrance HS
Did not compete during the fall ... Named to the Fall 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
2024 (Track & Field)
Ran two races during the indoor season … Claimed first at the Ken Shannon Invite, running 14:22.93 in the 5000m event at the University of Washington-hosted meet … Did not compete during the outdoor season.
2023 (Cross Country)
Competed in three races in his sophomore season, scoring for the Bruins in all of his appearances … Made his postseason debut at the Pac-12 Championships in October, scoring for UCLA with a 8k time of 25:33.8 … Was the second-fastest Bruin on the day at the NCAA West Regionals, placing 89th overall …
2023 (Track & Field)
Ran three races for the Bruins during the outdoor track and field season … Ran a season-best time in the 1500m race at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival, posting a 4:04.19 … His 15:00.95 in the 5000m event at the Bryan Clay Invitational was the thirdfastest time by a Bruin this season.
2022 (Cross Country)
Appeared in three races for the Bruins in 2022 … Ran a season-best 24:45.9 in the 8000m Highlander Invite, helping score for the Bruins … Placed 42nd at Highlander en route to a sixth-place team finish.
High School
Earned three letters apiece in cross country and track … 2022 Cross Country All-CIF & All-State Team ... 2022 Cross Country State Individual Runner-up and 2022 Cross Country State Team Champion ... Daily Breeze Cross Country Runner of the Year ... Also played volleyball his freshman year.
Personal
Born in Torrance, Calif., to parents Tom and Patti ... Has a fraternal twin, Evan, who runs for Embry Riddle University in Prescott, Arizona ... Why UCLA: The beautiful campus, the great academic opportunities, and the awesome guys on the team ... Cites winning the California State Cross Country Championship as a high school senior as his greatest pre-UCLA thrill ... Admires Grant Fisher, Cooper Teare, Morgan McDonald, and Ollie Hoare ... Enjoys going to the beach, surfing, snowboarding, and traveling ... Plans to major in business economics, and aspires to a career in investment banking.
2024
LEON GILLIS
6-2 / Junior Jumps
Spring Valley, Calif.
Steele Canyon HS
UC Santa Barbara
UCLA’s top high jumper on the men’s side … Placed fourth at the Texas A&M Invite during the indoor season, recording a season-best mark of 2.10m (6-10.75) … Competed in four indoor and four outdoor meets … Claimed first at both UCLA home meets during the outdoor campaign … Placed second at the annual rivalry meet, clearing 2.05m for the silver-medal finish.
2023 (at UC Santa Barbara)
Spent his true freshman season at UC Santa Barbara ... 2023 Big West Champion in the high jump (2.14m / 7-0.25) ... Won the high jump at the Challenge Cup Classic and UCSB Invitational ... Also earned podium finishes in the high jump at the Fresno State Invite and Beach Opener.
High School
Competed in the Grossmont Conference in the CIF San Diego Section under coach Tyler … Earned three varsity letters … 2021 CIF D3 San Diego Section Champion in the high jump … High jump runner-up at the 2022 CIF State Championships … Won a league team championship in 2022 … Tied the school record in the high jump (6’-9”)
Personal
Born to parents Curtis and Serena … Has three siblings, Curtis, Alana, and Nathaniel ... Favorite memory is jumping 6’9 to be tied for number one in the state at Valley Center High school in the Jag Invite … Roots for the Lakers … Enjoys watching Soul Plane, City of God, Winning Time, and Adventure Time … Favorite musicians include Larry June, Smokey Robinson, Sam Cooke, Nas, and Tupac.
High School
KARSON GORDON
6-1 / Freshman Jumps Missouri City, Texas Episcopal HS
Attended Episcopal High School in Houston, where he was a two-sport standout in track and football ... Was the 2022-23 Gatorade Texas Boys Track & Field Player of the Year ... Won a national championship in the triple jump with a mark of 51-4.25 at Nike Outdoor Nationals ... Posted a personal-best of 51-5.75 in the triple jump at the Texas Clyde Littlefield Relays in 2024 ... Won a league triple jump championship as a junior in 2023 ... Finished fourth at the state meet in the triple jump as a sophomore ... Was a three-star quarterback recruit, leading Episcopal to a 4A State Championship in 2023.
Personal
Son of Keilone and Katina Gordon ... Has a younger brother, Karter ... Decided to attend UCLA because of “Big Ten ball and the opportunity to compete in two sports” ... Also a member of the UCLA football program ... Hobbies and interests include poker, real estate, and golf ... Related to Bryce Deadmon, a U.S. Olympian and national champion in 400 meters.
2024 (Cross Country)
ANGUS HARRINGTON
6-5 / Graduate Student
Distance
London, England, United Kingdom
Trinity School
University of Cambridge
Competed in three of UCLA’s five regular-season races ... Posted a time of 26:06.1 at the 2024 Big Ten Championships in Savoy, Ill. ... Also raced at the Bill Dellinger Invite and Gans Creek Classic.
2024 (Track & Field)
Ran three indoor 800m races in his Bruin debut … Jumped up to third on UCLA’s alltime indoor top 10 list in February, placing second (1:47.86) at the Boston College Eagle Invite … The top 800m runner during the outdoor campaign, recorded UCLA’s top six marks of the season … Ran his season-best mark (1:47.94) at the NCAA west prelims in Arkansas … Placed 15th in the west … Also ran a 1500m and anchored a 4x400m relay during the season … Threw javelin at the USC Dual Meet, placing third with his mark (50.19m, 164-08).
2023 (Cross Country)
Did not compete for the Bruins.
University of Cambridge (2019-23)
Highlights of his accomplishments include capturing the 2023 British Universities 800m Champion title and being a two-time Oxford vs. Cambridge 800m champion ... Earned Cambridge University Full Blue, the highest honor bestowed upon a Cambridge athlete ... Represented his country as the England Senior Representative at 2023 Loughborough International in May.
Personal
Born in London, England, United Kingdom, to parents Rod and Isobel ... Is “pretty passionate about a lot of sports” ... Supports Arsenal Football Club, but also enjoys watching and playing cricket, basketball and tennis ... Lists Reece Prescod and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the famous athletes he most admires ... Outside of sport, enjoys going to the movies ... Decided to attend UCLA after completing his undergraduate degree in the UK because “I always wanted to be a student-athlete at a DI NCAA school to push myself as an athlete. UCLA is famous for track and field, it is a top-ranked academic university and the weather is a lot nicer than England so it was the dream place to have the chance to attend” ... Studying to earn his Master’s in financial engineering with a career objective of becoming a trader.
Stanford (2020-24)
ALLAN HUNTER
6-0 / Graduate Student Jumps
Tracy, Calif.
Kimball HS
Stanford
Spent four seasons at Stanford University from 2020-24 ... Was a team captain in his junior and senior seasons ... Two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree (202223) ... Four-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll member ... Finalist in the long jump at the Pac-12 Championships in each of his four seasons on campus ... Graduated with the No. 5 mark in Stanford’s indoor long jump all-time top-10 (24-5).
High School
Attended John C. Kimball High School in Tracy, Calf. ... Runner-up at the 2019 CIF State Meet in the long jump ... Also qualified for the triple jump at the 2019 state meet ... At the 2019 Sac-Joaquin Section Masters meet, was champion in the triple jump and runner-up in the long jump ... School record-holder in the long jump and high jump ... Also lettered in basketball and baseball.
Personal
Born in 2002 in Stockton, Calif. ... Working towards his master’s in mechanical engineering at UCLA ... Parents are Tammy Culberon, Dwight Hunter, and Michael Culberson (stepfather) ... Has three siblings: Rachael, Catherine, and David ... Decided to attend UCLA because of “strong academics and athletics, and a beautiful campus” ... Admires Carl Lewis and San Francisco Giants legend Buster Posey ... Both he, with brother David, and his sisters are twins ... His father played football at Portland State in the 1960s ... Brother, David, ran track at UC Davis from 2020-24.
2024
BENJAMIN KIRK
5-10 / Junior Sprints
Denver, Colo.
Denver East HS
Did not compete during the indoor season … Ran the 100m and 200m events during his sophomore outdoor campaign … Placed second in the 100m event at the Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invite behind teammate Sam Herenton … Posted a season-best mark in the 200m (21.90) at that same home meet … Finished 16th in the Conference in the 100m race (10.72).
2023
Appeared in four races for the Bruins during the indoor season, running 60m and 200m events … Debuted at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational in the 60m… ran a season-best 7.02 at the Don Kirby Invite on Feb. 11 … Ran 22.58 in his lone 200m race at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational … Did not compete during the 2023 outdoor campaign.
High School
Was a two year letter winner at Denver East High School in track and field and three year letter winner in football … Earned Football All-American Honors during his freshman and sophomore years … Competed in the 100m and 200m dash at 5A state championship and was a two-time first team all-state track and field … Ran club track with Hustle Denver … Competed at the New Balance Indoor nationals 2022 and Nike Outdoor Nationals 2022.
Personal
Born in Denver, Colo. to parents Shana and Greg Kirk … Has a younger brother, Henry … Chose UCLA because it’s the “best combination of top-notch academics and athletics in the country” … Describes his greatest athletic thrill as winning two state titles after having only done track for less than a year … Admires Demaryius Thomas and Von Miller … He is the first person in his family to ever compete in any athletics in high school or college.
2024
ELIJAH MAJOR
5-10 / Senior Sprints
Fort Pierce Westwood Academy
Detroit Mercy
Competed in nine events in his debut season with the Bruins … Primarily ran the 60m sprint … Recorded his season-best mark (6.81) at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational in January … Also competed in the 200m and 4x400m during the indoor campaign … Did not compete during the outdoor season.
2023 (at Detroit Mercy)
Third in the 100m and second in the 200m at outdoor league championships ... Won the 60m and 200m at the Mastodon Invitational ... Earned First Outdoor All-Horizon League in the 4x100 Relay for the second consecutive season ... Named Second Team Indoor All-Horizon League in the 60m and 200m ... Also earned second team all-league honors in the 200m during outdoor season ... Named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023.
2022 (at Detroit Mercy)
A member of the school record 4x100 relay team that posted a 41.05 time at Elaine Leigh Invite ... Won the 60m Dash at the Silverston Invitational with a time of 6.87 seconds, good for third in school history ... Earned league runner of the week honors for the final week of the indoor season ... Named the 2022 conference rookie of the year for the indoor campaign ... First Team Outdoor All-Horizon League in the 4x100 Relay.
High
School
Earned letters in golf, cross country, and track and field at Fort Pierce Westwood Academy ... Two-time state qualifier in track ... Earnd honors including Most Improved Award, Leadership Award, Panther Pride, and Peak Performer.
Personal
Son of Sarai and Gikalo Major.
Oregon (2020-24)
KOJO MANU
6-4 / Graduate Student Sprints
Beaverton, Ore.
Westview HS
Oregon
Spent his undergrad career at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore. ... Competed for the track and field team in 2024 ... Competed for the UO Running Club in 2022-23 ... Helped Oregon to a win in the DMR at the Eagle Elite meet ... Runner-up in the 400m at the Lane Invite ... Ran the leadoff leg of Oregon’s eight-place 4x400 relay team at the 2024 Pac-12 Championships.
High School
Attended Westview High School in Portland, Ore. ... Competed on the track and field team ... Three-time OSAA 6A State Qualifier in 2019 ... Helped Westview to a third-place finish in the 4x400 relay at the 2019 state meet ... Three-time Metro League runner up in the 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m.
Personal
Full name: Kojo Osei Manu ... Born in 2002 in Portland, Ore. ... Working towards his master’s in quantitative economics ... Aspires to a career in the data/financial analysis field ... Parents are Leslie and Kofi Manu ... Has one younger sister, Amma ... Admires Ma Long ... Hobbies and interests include golf, hiking, fishing, and reading ... Can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under a minute.
Career Honors
MICHAEL MIRELES
5-9 / Graduate Student Distance
Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Thousand Oaks HS
2024 Cross Country First Team All-Big Ten
2024 Cross Country All-West Region
2024 (Cross Country)
Earned First Team All-Big Ten and All-West Region honors after his performances at the Big Ten Championships and NCAA West Regionals, respectively ... Was the runner-up in the men’s 8k in UCLA’s inaugural Big Ten Championships, posting a time of 22:55.0 at the Blue and Orange Course in Savoy, Ill. ... He followed that up with a 29:30.6 at Regionals in Colfax, Wash. ... Made his season debut at the Bill Dellinger Invite, leading UCLA and earning sixth place overall with a time of 23:04.8.
2024 (Track & Field)
Broke four minutes in the indoor mile at the University of Washington Invitational … His 3:58.95 mark ranks second all-time in UCLA’s indoor record book … Also competed in the 3000m event, recording a season-best 8:00.44 at the Boston College Eagle Elite in February … Went on to run six races during the outdoor campaign … Competed in the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m, capturing the top mark in each of those events for the Bruins … Placed first in the 1500m against USC, running a season-best 3:47.01 against the Trojans … Crossed in 8:45.72 for a first-place finish in the 3000m race at the USC Dual Meet … Ran a season-best 13:49.30 in the 5000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational … His mark landed eighth on UCLA’s all-time top 10 in the 5k event … Had a podium finish in the 5k at the Pac-12 Championships, claiming second … Placed 20th in the west region at the Arkansas-hosted NCAA meet.
2023 (Cross Country)
Did not compete for the Bruins.
2023 (Track & Field)
Ran three indoor races for UCLA, all in the 3000m event … Won his heat in the Husky Invite, running an 8:02.35 … Ran one outdoor race at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival… Finished the 1500m race in 3:50.75 for 10th at the meet.
2022 (Cross Country)
The Bruins’ top or second-best runner in four of his five appearances in 2022 … Alongside Peter Herold and Ronan McMahon-Staggs, finished in the top 10 runners at the Bill Dellinger Invite (Herold – 23:49.8, 5th; McMahon-Staggs – 23:54.5, 8th; Mireles – 23:54.9, 9th) … The Bruins placed third as a team at Bill Dellinger … Ran a season-best 23:35.5 at the Pac-12 Championships to finish 22nd in the Conference … UCLA’s second scorer at the NCAA West Regional Championships, placing 30th in the west region by running a 29:09.4 in the 10,000-meter meet.
2022 (Track & Field)
Did not compete for the Bruins.
2021
Did not compete.
2020 (Cross Country)
Competed in three meets as a true freshman … Won the men’s 8k on his debut at the Arizona Invitational, going 25:15.3 for the victory … Finished seventh overall at the Dave Murray Invite, clocking an 8k time of 24:50.3 … Capped his season with a 50th-place finish at the Pac-12 Championships, going 24:52.8 on the 8k course.
High School
1600m PR: 4:20.26 … 3200m PR: 9:07.77 … Qualified for the 2019 NXN Nike Cross Nationals and finished 25th overall with a 5k time of 15:36.6 … Took third place at the 2019 CIF Southern Section Cross Country Finals and fourth at the State Meet … Finished second in his lone 1600m race of the 2020 season, crossing with a personal-best time of 4:20.26 at the Thousand Oaks Invite … Finished fourth at the 2019 CIF-SS Division 2 Finals in the 3200m (9:22.50) … Went on to finish eighth at the SS Masters Meet with a huge PR of 9:07.77.
USC (2022-24)
TAMAAL MYERS
5-10 / Junior Hurdles
Detroit, Mich.
Cass Technical HS USC
2024
Spent his first two collegiate seasons at USC ... Finished fourth in the 400m hurdles at the 2023 USATF U20 Championships with a time of 52.32 ... Qualified for West Regionals in 2024, finishing 24th in the 400 hurdles ... Earned a fifth-place finish in the 400 hurdles at the 2024 Pac-12 Championships ... Also helped USC to a fifth-place finish in the 4x400 relay at Pac-12s ... Won the 400 hurdles at the 2024 Trojan Invite ... Runner-up in the 400 hurdles at the UCLA-USC dual meet and 44 Farms Team Invitational in 2024 ... Helped USC to a 4x400 relay win at the 2023 Cougar Classic Invitational (indoor).
High School
Attended Cass Technical HS in Detroit ... Was a 21-time High School All-American ... Two-time AAU National Champion.
Personal
Full name: Tamaal Myers II ... Born in 2004 in Detroit ... Parents are Charmaine and Tamaal Myers ... Hobbies and interests include music and fashion ... Is one of six siblings.
2024
Did not compete for the Bruins.
2023
CAMRYN O’BANNON
6-5 / Junior Jumps
Long Beach, Calif.
St. John Bosco HS
Made a splash in his first meet with the Bruins, jumping 7.35m (24-01.50) at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Invitational in his UCLA debut … Cracked the indoor all-time top 10 list with the mark … Immediately improved on his collegiate-best mark at the Dr. Sander Invite a week later, jumping 7.67m (25-02.00) to win the event … Landed fourth all-time for the Bruins in the indoor record book … Also ran the anchor leg of the 4x400m relay at the New York meet … Did not compete for the Bruins during the outdoor season.
High School
Attended St. John Bosco High School … Competed in track and field all four years, running the 400m and 4x400m, as well as competing in the triple jump and long jump events … Named St. John Bosco’s Most Valuable Player in 2019 and 2022 … Earned Trinity League Field Athlete of the Meet in both 2021 and 2022.
Personal
Born in Long Beach, Calif., as the third child in his family … Mother is La Shon ... Has two older sisters Rayven and Ry’Ann … Outside of the track, his hobbies include cooking, gaming, binge-watching and listening to music … Is allergic to chocolate … Decided to attend UCLA because “it has an excellent academic and athletic program close to home” … Lists Michael Powell and Deion Sanders as the athletes he most admires … Related to Edward and Charles O’Bannon, former UCLA men’s basketball student-athletes, and Brendon Davis, who plays professional baseball … Also related to Justyn Martin, a former quarterback on the UCLA football team … Planning to major in psychology.
HUNTER O’BRIEN
5-11 / Junior Pole Vault
Eastvale, Calif.
Eleanor Roosevelt HS
Competed in the pole vault event at five indoor meets … Made his season debut with a second-place finish at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational … Recorded his season-best mark at the Don Kirby Invitational … His clearance of 5.42m (1709.25) landed him seventh all-time on UCLA’s indoor top 10 list … Placed first at the USC Dual Meet, his first of three outdoor appearances … Finished fourth in the Conference at the Pac-12 Championships, clearing 5.19m in Colorado … Cleared 5.22m at the NCAA West Prelims in Arkansas to place 25th in the west.
2023
Competed in four meets during the indoor track and field season … Finished eighth in the pole vault event at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational in his debut … Improved on his first mark steadily throughout the season … Recorded an indoorseason-best 4.89m (16-00.50) at the Don Kirby Invite, finishing second in the event … Cleared 4.88m at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational… Appeared in five pole vault competitions during the 2023 outdoor campaign … Claimed first inside Drake Stadium twice in his freshman campaign … First gold placement came at the Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational on March 25, when he cleared 5.00m (16-07.50) … Also placed first against rival USC during the annual Dual Meet on April 30 … Finished eighth in the Conference, clearing a collegiate-best mark of 5.07m (16-07.5) at the Pac-12 Championships in May ... Cleared 5.00m (16-04.75) to place eighth in the nation in the pole vault at the 2023 USATF U-20 Outdoor Championships.
High School
Three-time letter winner win track and field at Eleanor Roosevelt High School … Won the Big VIII league champion twice, CIF SS Div I, CIF SS Masters, CIF State Champion, Arcadia Invitational Champion, and came in 3rd at U20 nationals … Member of Ultimate Pole Vault club team … Competed at the USATF U-20 nationals and 2022 Busan International Pole Vault Meeting.
Personal
Born in Corona, Calif. to parents Jason and Dena O’Brien … Has two younger brothers, David and Finnegan, and a younger sister Abigail … Chose UCLA because of its “Great Academics and great athletics” … Describes his greatest athletic thrill as competing at U20 nationals in Eugene … Admires Mondo Duplantis, Chris Neilson, Michael Phelps, Katie Nageotte … Enjoys Legos, Marvel, Baseball, Harry Potter, and food … Plans to major in political science, and aspires to a career in law.
Career Highlights
2024 Second Team All-America (Discus)
2024
MICHAEL PINCKNEY
6-5 / Junior Throws
Queens, N.Y.
High School for Construction Trades, Engineering and Architecture
Career Honors
Three-time All-American
Four-time Academic All-American
Two-time Big Ten Medalist
PARKER RAYMOND
6-3 / Graduate Student
Middle Distance
Rochester Hills, Mich.
Rochester Adams HS
Indiana
Earned Second Team All-America honors in the men’s discus after finishing ninth at NCAAs with a mark of 58.98m (193-6) ... Second-place finisher at the 2024 Pac-12 Championships in the discus with a mark of 58.43m (191-8) ... Only competed in two regular season meets, and five overall, during the outdoor season ... Did not compete during indoor season.
2023
Appeared in nine indoor events for the Bruins during his inaugural indoor campaign, competing in the shot put and weight throw events … Held UCLA’s top mark in both events for the indoor season … Debuted at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational with a third-place finish in the weight throw … All five marks he recorded in the weight throw would have made it onto the indoor all-time top 10 list … Launched a throw of 22.05m (72-04.25) at his old stomping grounds, The Armory, at the Dr. Sander Invitational to win the weight throw event … Set UCLA’s new indoor school record with the throw, and is the only Bruin to throw over 72 feet in indoor competition … Threw a mark over 72 feet in two meets … Placed 11th in the nation at the USATF Indoor National Championships in February, throwing 20.61m … Recorded a team-season-best mark of 17.33m (56-10.25) in the shot put at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invite in late February … Threw shot put, hammer and discus in 17 appearances during the outdoor campaign … Opened the season with third-place finishes in both the hammer throw (62.25m, 204-03) and discus events (55.56m, 182-03) at the Ben Brown Invitational on March 10 … Placed second at the USC Dual Meet in the shot put (15.65m, 51-04.25) and the discus (56.96m, 186-10.00) events, scoring for UCLA … The Bruins defeated the Trojans 88-70 to defend Drake Stadium … Threw his season-best mark in the shot put at the Pac-12 Championships (17.60m, 57-09.00) to finish eighth in the Conference … Also placed 11th in the hammer throw (61.95m, 203-03) and 13th in the discus (53.25m, 174-08) … Capped his freshman campaign placing 19th in the west in the discus event at the 2023 NCAA West Regional meet ... Pinckney captured gold in the hammer throw event at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships, throwing 67.03m (219-11) on his first attempt … He is the first Bruin since Otito Ogbonnia to earn a gold medal at a U20 meet (2019 Pan American U20 Championships; shot put) … Pinckney also was the national runner up in the shot put event, throwing 19.21m (63-00.25) and placed sixth in the discus event … Pinckney competed in the hammer throw and shot put events at the Pan American U20 Track & Field Championships in Puerto Rico … Representing Team USA, Pinckney earned a silver medal in the shot put and finished fifth in the hammer throw.
High School
Lettered four years at the High School for Construction Trades, Engineering and Architecture ... Named the 2019 USATF New York Athlete of the Year for boy’s field events in 2020 and 2021 ... Three-time League MVP of the Year for field events (2x indoor, 1x outdoor) ... New Balance All-American ... 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year for New York ... 2022 Junior Olympics regional champion in the discus ... Member of Eclipse Track Club.
Personal
Born in Queens, New York to parents Michael and Samantha Pinckney ... Has two brothers, Mekhi and Pride, and a sister, Malyn ... Chose UCLA because he wanted “to pursue very rigorous academic career as well as competitive athletic career. At UCLA I plan to graduate with a degree in civil engineering or urban and regional planning. I also plan to leave as an elite athlete in my position” ... Admires Deon Sanders, Ray Lewis, Kibwe Johnson, Darell Hill, Fredrick Dacres, Alex Young ... Enjoys swimming, biking, driving in his free time ... His career objective is designing and executing structural works that serve the general public, including bridges, canals, dams, harbors, lighthouses, roads, tunnels, and environmental work.
Indiana (2021-24)
Competed in the NCAA Indoor Championships and Big Ten Indoor Championships in the DMR, placing sixth in the former and fourth in the latter ... With his NCAAs performance, earned First Team AllAmerica honors and the last spot on IU’s all-time top-10 list ... Earned Academic All-America honors on four occasions ... Helped Indiana to a fifth-place finish in the DMR at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships, earning All-America honors ... Was a Second Team All-American in the DMR at the 2022 NCAA Indoors ... Finished second in the DMR at the 2022 Big Ten Indoor Championships.
High School
Attended Rochester Adams High School in Rochester Hills, Mich. ... Lettered four years apiece in track and soccer.
Personal
Full name: Parker Alan Raymond ... Working towards a pre-MBA graduate certificate ... Parents are Tracie Rettell and Steve Raymond ... Has an older sister, Paige ... Chose to attend UCLA because of “the expert middle distance coaching, the friendly, welcoming team, and the excellence of the UCLA brand” ... Admires Lionel Messi ... Hobbies and interests include soccer, backpacking, hiking, and acoustic guitar ... Worked in Spain over the summer of 2023 ... His father rowed crew at Washington.
2024
JOHN ROBINSON IV
6-3 / Junior Sprints
Milton, Ga.
King’s Ridge Christian HS
Competed in the 60m, 200m and 4x400m relay during the indoor campaign … Recorded his season-best 60m mark (6.88) at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational on Jan. 20, placing eighth … Claimed the top three times for UCLA’s indoor 200m sprinters during 2024 … His season-best mark (21.06) now ranks fifth all-time … Ran that time at the New Mexico Team Open in late January … Made his only outdoor appearance at the Rafer JohnsonJackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational … Ran the 200m, placing eighth at the UCLA home meet.
2023
Appeared in nine races for the Bruins during his inaugural indoor campaign with UCLA … Debuted at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational in the 60m and 200m races … Ran a season-best mark of 6.93 in the 60m event at the Don Kirby Invitational … Also set his collegiate best in the indoor 200m at the New Mexico meet, running 21.52 … Appeared in one 4x400m relay with the Bruins at the Dr. Sander Invite … Ran 14 races for UCLA during the outdoor season … Appeared in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m relay events … Made his debut at the Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational, claiming fifth in the 100m (10.63) and ninth in the 200m (21.56) events … Improved throughout the season, running his season-bests in both events at the Pac-12 Championships (100m – 10.54; 200m – 21.01) … Placed eighth in the conference in the 200m, running as the lone Bruin representative in the final … Anchored the fifth-place 4x100m relay at the Pac-12 Championships (39.72).
High School
A four sport letterwinner at Kings Ridge Christian School (tennis, swim, track, football) … Named Track Athlete of the Year each of his four years ... Six-time state champion ... Ran club with Major Impact Track Club GA … Was a six-time All-American with Major Impact Track Club … Competed in the 2021 Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, 2021 Junior Olympics in Jacksonville, 2022 Nike Indoor Nationals in New York, and 2022 Nike Outdoor Nationals In Eugene.
Personal
Born in Tampa, Florida to parents John and Michelle Robinson … Dad was a jumper at California and Mom was a collegiate basketball player at Oregon State … Has a younger brother, Ethan … Chose UCLA because “It had always been a school I was interested in because my mom went here and came out to visit and loved it” … Describes his greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill as his first time winning the state championship … Admires Trayvon Bromell … Enjoys Photography, Videography, and Running … Is also interested in sports medicine, NFL, and NBA …Plans to major in physiological science, and aspires to become a chiropractor.
2024 (Cross Country)
JACK ROSENCRANS
Graduate Student Distance
Glen Head, N.Y.
North Shore HS
Pomona-Pitzer College
Competed in three of UCLA’s five races in his debut season in Westwood ... Finished first among the Bruin men at the Gans Creek Classic with an 8k time of 24:35.0 ... That Gans Creek Race marked his UCLA competitive debut ... Notched a PR of 24.11.1 in the 8k race at the Big Ten Championships in Savoy, Ill. ... UCLA’s second-best finisher at the B1G Championships and the Bill Dellinger Invite (24:13.5).
Pomona-Pitzer (2020-24)
Four-year letterwinner at Pomona-Pitzer (NCAA Division III) ... 2023 USTFCCCA AllAcademic Team ... Finished 10th in the 1500m at the 2023 NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships (3:47.37) ... Also competed in the 5k at the 2023 NCAAs ... At the 2023 SCIAC Championship, placed third in the 1500m and eighth in the 800m.
High School
Attended North Shore High School … Was a 15x Nassau County Champion, four-time All-State, two-time All-Long Island, and 22x All-County … Mathematics Student of the Month (Mar. 2017) … Technology Student of the Month (May 2017) … Social Studies Student of the Month (Oct. 2018) … Member of Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, Language Honor Society, Science Honor Society, and National Honor Society … Scholar-Athlete Award … Long Island Science Congress Most Distinguished Categorial Project -Biology- Animal and Plant (2019).
High School
DEREK SMITH
6-4 / Freshman Throws
Clovis, Calif.
Buchanan HS
Attended Buchanan High School in Clovis, Calif. ... Earned four varsity letters apiece in track and field and water polo ... Was a High School All-American in discus ... Earned top-three finishes at the CIF State Meet as a junior and senior ... Four-time all-league pick, and two-time all-state honoree ... Was a Section MVP and two-time All-American in water polo.
Personal
Full name: Derek Eugene Smith ... Born in 2006 in Boone, N.C. ... Parents are April and Bob Smith ... Has an older brother, Drew ... Decided to attend UCLA because of “the team culture and the academics” ... Cites hitting a PR at the state meet during his junior year of high school as his greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill ... Admires Tiger Woods ... Hobbies and interests include golf, watching movies, listening to music, and playing board games.
High School
CADE SOMMERS
6-2 / Freshman Pole Vault
Thousand Oaks, Calif. Westlake HS
Attended Westlake High School in Westlake Village, Calif. ... Named the 2024 Ventura County Star Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year ... Won a CIF Southern Section title in pole vault and qualified for the CIF State Meet ... Also won a Marmonte League title in pole vault ... Finished second in pole vault at the 2024 Mt. SAC Relays ... During his senior season, also won picked up event wins in the 200m, 4x100 relay, long jump, and triple jump ... Westlake HS record holder in the 4x100 and pole vault ... Named First Team All-Ventura County.
Personal
Full name: Cade Brian Sommers ... Born in 2005 in Thousand Oaks, Calif. to parents Jennifer and John Sommers ... Has two older sisters, Brooke and Paige ... Father, John, was an All-American pole vaulter at UCLA ... Sister, Paige, was a high school national record holder and pole vaulted at Duke ... Grandfather, Robert, played basketball at Stanford ... Aunt, Caroline, was a high jumper at UCLA ... His mom, Jennifer, graduated from UCLA and attended the UCLA Anderson School of Management ... Chose to attend UCLA “because of my family legacy at UCLA, its location close to home, great academics, amazing weather, and competitive track team” ... Admires Mondo Duplantis ... Hobbies include surfing, golfing, snow skiing, wakeboarding, and traveling ... Was named after former UCLA quarterback Cade McNown.
2024
JAKE STAFFORD
6-5 / Sophomore Throws
Dana Point, Calif. JSerra Catholic High School
Did not appear for the Bruins during the indoor season … Made his UCLA debut at the Stanford Invitational, competing in both the discus throw and high jump … Competed in the high jump, javelin, hammer throw and discus events during his freshman outdoor campaign … Placed second at the USC Dual Meet in the javelin throw, recording a team-best mark of 52.69m (172-10.00) in the rivalry meet … Placed 15th in the hammer throw at the Pac-12 Championships … Threw his season-best mark of 57.24m at the Conference meet … Secured a fourth-place finish at Pac-12s in the discus throw (55.55m), joining teammate Michael Pinckney in the top five in the Conference.
High School
Attended JSerra Catholic High School … Competed in track & field as a thrower and high jumper all four years … Named the 2023 Orange County Competitor of the Year in track & field … Crowned the state champion and CIF Southern Section high jump champion in 2023 … Named Milesplit All-State First Team (2023) and Nike Nationals All-American for the discus throw … Also played basketball, earning two varsity letters as a forward, and football where he earned a varsity letter as a wide receiver … Broke his high school basketball team’s single-season offensive rebounding record, averaging 8 points and 6 rebounds per game … Named JSerra team captain, as well as CDM Beach Bash AllTournament team (2022) … Was his varsity basketball team’s teammate of the year in 2023, after earning JV teammate of the year in 2021 … Earned the Freshman Heart of a Lion award during his first season (2020) … USATF U20 Championships 2023: Placed eighth at the USATF U20 meet in the discus throw, recording a mark of 179-05.25.
Personal
Born in Walnut Creek, Calif., to parents Stephen and Kirsten … Has three older siblings: Justin (UCLA track & field class of 2019), John and Jillian, who currently competes for the Bruins … Decided to attend UCLA because “I was excited to join my sister on the track team here, and be able to compete with the best athletes while also getting the best education” … Describes his greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill as winning the state championship in high jump, saying it was “pretty electric,” as well as coming in fourth in the discus throw at Nike nationals … Lists Dennis Rodman as a famous athlete he admires … Outside of track & field, interested in playing cards, basketball, watching movies and going to the beach.
TERRENCE SWEETMAN
6-1 / Junior Jumps
South Pasadena, Calif.
South Pasadena HS
Mt. San Antonio College
Mt. San Antonio College (2022-24)
Spent two seasons at Mt. San Antonio College in nearby Walnut, Calif. ... Was the secondplace finisher in the triple jump at the 2024 3C2A California State Championship ... Won the triple jump, and was ninth in the long jump, at the 3C2A Southern California Prelims ... At the 2024 South Coast Conference Championships, was second in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump ... Won the triple jump, and was sixth in the triple jump, the community college division of the 2024 Mt. SAC Relays ... Named the squad’s Most Valuable Athlete in 2024.
High School
Attended South Pasadena High School in South Pasadena, Calif. ... 2021 Rio Hondo League Champion in the triple jump ... CIF Southern Section Division 3 Finalist in the triple jump ... Helped SPHS to a Southern Section Division 3 team title ... Also competed in football at South Pasadena, earning all-state and first team all-league honors ... Led the state of California with 13 interceptions in 2019 ... Lettered one year in soccer.
Personal
Born in 2002 in South Pasadena, Calif. to parents Amy and Tim Sweetman ... Has four brothers: Cole, Landon, Quinn, and Tristan .. Decided to attend UCLA because of “the great academics and business economics program, as well as the competitiveness and quality of training” ... Cites recording three interceptions in his last football game, to seal the state lead in picks for the season, as his greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill ... Admires Kobe Bryant ... Hobbies and interests include poker and e-commerce ... Plans on majoring in business economics.
Career Highlights
2023 Pac-12 Decathlon Champion
OLLIE THORNER
6-1 / Graduate Student Multis
Street, England Millfield School Florida / Washington
Two-time All-American (Decathlon; 2022-23)
2024 (at Florida)
Recorded a fourth place finish in the Men’s Heptathlon with a final total and personal best of 5751 at the SEC Indoor Championships (Feb. 23/24)... Placed eighth in the Men’s 4x400m (3:10.19) and ran a 7.25 in the Men’s 60m at the Tyson Invitational (Feb. 9/10)... Set event personal bests in four events (60m, LJ, 60m H, 1000m) of the Men’s Heptathlon at the Razorback Invitational (Jan. 26/27) earning him 5655 points which stands as an indoor personal record and ranks third on Florida’s Indoor All-Time Top 10 list... Made his Gator debut and competed in four events (Pole Vault, Long Jump, 800m and 4x400m) at the McFerrin-12 Degree Invitational (Jan. 13) ... Did not compete in outdoor.
2023 (at Washington)
Won the Pac-12 Decathlon title … At Pac-12s, led a 1-3-4 finish in the decathlon for the Huskies, helping UW win its first team title, scoring a career-high 7,761 points to go to No. 4 in school history and qualify for a second-straight NCAA Outdoor Championships … In his Pac-12 decathlon, had a wind-aided long jump PR of 23-0 ¾, tied his shot put PR at 43-0 ½, a 110m hurdles PR of 15.13, and a discus PR of 143-6, and went from second to first in the final 1,500-meters which he won in 4:22.35 … Earned a second All-America Second Team honor at NCAAs, where he was 13th in the decathlon with 7,641 points ... At NCAAs, had a shot put PR of 43-9, and then dominated the final 1,500-meters with a winning time of 4:17.13 which was 15 seconds ahead of second-place ... Had indoor PRs during the season in the pole vault (15-11), the long jump (22-8 ½), and the shot put (43-0 ¼) ... Named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team … Pac-12-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll member.
2022 (at Washington)
Earned Second Team All-America honors in the decathlon… Scored a new 10-event best of 7,602 points at the Mt. SAC Relays, moving to No. 5 in school history, and qualifying for nationals … At Mt. SAC, had a 400-meters PR of 49.08, a 110m hurdles PR of 15.24, and a javelin PR of 179-11 … At his first NCAA meet, came in seeded 21st and finished 15th, scoring 7,473 points … At NCAAs, had a pole vault PR of 15-9 ¼ for third, a shot put PR of 42-9 ¾, and was fourth in the final 1,500-meters in a PR of 4:24.59 … Named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team … a Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll member.
2021 (at Washington)
In his first collegiate outdoor season, took second-place honors in the decathlon at the Pac-12 Championships, setting a new PR with 7,388 points to go to No. 7 in UW history and ranking 30th in the NCAA in 2021 … In the Pac-12 decathlon, ran a 100m PR of 10.87, long jumped a PR of 22-7, shot put 40-4 ¼, cleared 6-2 in the high jump, ran the 400m in 49.86, and on day two started with a 110m hurdles PR of 15.33, threw 123-5 in the discus, won the pole vault at 15-9, set a javelin PR of 172-3, and took third in the 1,500-meters in 4:41.80 … Had a shot put PR of 42-4 at the West Coast Relays … Season-best high jump of 6-4 ¾ at the Jim Bush Legends Invite for second … Had a discus PR of 126-3 at the Jim Click Shootout … Competed just once indoors, in the shot put at the Husky Classic, going 39-10 ¾ … Made the Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll … Named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.
2020 (at Washington)
Recorded the No. 4 mark in UW history in the heptathlon … Earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.
High School
Competed in the 2018 European U18 Championships, finishing 12th with a decathlon score of 6,982 points … Took third at the England U20 Combined Events Championships in May of 2019 with a decathlon score of 7,229 … Placed first at the 2018 Swiss National Combined Events Championships with a total of 7,032.
Personal
Born in 2001 in Yeovil, Somerset, England ... Parents are Alan and Rosie Thorner ... Has a twin sister, Elise ... Attending the marketing extension program at UCLA ... Earned his B.A. in real estate at Washington, and an undergraduate certificate in sports management at Florida ... Decided to attend UCLA “to work with some of the top coaches in the NCAA” ... Competed alongside his sister at Florida.
Diablo Valley College (2022-24)
AMEEN TOKHI
5-9 / Junior Sprints
Pleasanton, Calif.
Amador Valley HS
Diablo Valley College
Spent his first two seasons at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Calif. ... Qualified for the State Championships as a sophomore at DVC ... As a sophomore, was runner up in the 100m at the 3C2A Northern California Trials ... As a sophomore, won a Big 8 Conference Championship in the 100m ... Also helped DVC to a third-place result in the 4x100 at the 2024 league meet.
High School
Attended Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, Calif.
Personal
Full name: Ameen Taufiq Tokhi ... Born in 2004 in San Jose ... Parents are David and Traci ... Has three older siblings: Hakim, Jamil, and Jennah ... Plans on majoring in applied mathematics ... Aspires to become an engineer or professor ... Chose to attend UCLA because of “the combined prestige of athletics and academics” ... Cites running a track meet for the first time after recovering from a torn ACL as his greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill ... Hobbies and interests include playing basketball, playing videogames, and spending time with family.
2024
SHAWN TONEY
6-1 / Junior Hurdles
Los Altos, Calif.
Los Altos HS
Appeared in two events at the Texas A&M Invitational during the indoor season (400m, 4x400m) … UCLA’s only 400m hurdler during the outdoor campaign, ran four hurdle events … His season-best mark (52.94) was recorded at the USC Dual Meet where he placed third … Finished 17th in the Conference in the event… Named to the Pac-12 2024 Winter Honor Roll.
2023
Did not compete for the Bruins during the indoor season … Appeared 12 times for UCLA in his inaugural season … Ran seven races in the 400m hurdles, debuting at the Ben Brown Invitational (55.18) … Improved on his collegiate-best mark throughout the season, eventually claiming first at the annual rivalry dual meet against USC (54.41 – April 30) … Took ninth in the Conference, running a season-best 53.70 mark in the 400m hurdle final at the Pac-12 Championships … Ran in the 4x400m relay at the three meets, with a season-best fifth-place finish at the Jim Click Shootout on April 8 (3:12.64) … Also competed in the pole vault and javelin events at the USC Dual Meet, scoring points in the pole vault competition after tying teammate Aiden Lieb for second in the event.
2024 (at San Jose State)
WARING
Junior Hurdles
Los Angeles, Calif.
Culver City HS
San Jose State
Qualified for the Outdoor NCAA First Round in the 400mH, ultimately placing 30th in the West Region (52.07) ... Fourth-place finisher in the 400mH at the Mountain West Championships (51.95) ... Competed in the 200m, 400m, and 4x400 during indoor season.
2023 (at San Jose State)
Qualified for the NCAA West Regionals in the 400mH, ultimately placing 23rd and recording a PR (51.70) ... Third-place finisher in the 400mH at the Mountain West Championships ... Second-place finisher in the 400mH at the Fresno State Invite ... Helped SJSU to a win in the 4x400 at the Mangrum Invitational ... Set a best time in the 200m (21.69) at the Mountain West Indoor Championships.
Prior to UCLA
JEREMY ZAMMIT
5-11 / Junior Jumps
Qrendi, Malta
St. Aloysius College (HS)
Auburn
Spent his first two collegiate seasons at Auburn (2022-24) ... Did not compete in 2024 ... As a freshman, finished 12th in the long jump at the SEC Outdoor Championships ... Won the long jump at the 2023 Crimson Tide Invitational. ... Attended St. Aloysius College from 2020-22 ... Part of the Maltese National Team ... Enters UCLA as the Maltese national record holder in the long jump at the U-16, U-18, and U-20 levels ... Competed at the 2021 World U-20 Championships and the 2021 U-20 European Championships.
Personal
Born in 2004 in Malta ... Parents are Alexandra and Alan ... Has three siblings: Matthew, Robyn, and Jack ... Plans to major in business economics ... Decided to attend UCLA because “it is a great academic school, and the coaching staff is great” ... Enjoys playing golf ... His home country has a population of just around 500,000 people.
Career Honors
KA’LEILA ABRILLE
5-3 / Graduate Student
Pole Vault
Woodstock, Ga.
Riverwood International Charter / Rutgers
2024 Indoor Second Team All-American
2024
Appeared in six indoor and seven outdoor meets … Repeated as the top Bruin pole vaulter … Opened the indoor season with a first-place finish at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Invitational (4.12m, 13-06.25) … Collected back-to-back second-place finishes at the New Mexico Team Open and at the Charlie Thomas Invitational … Ranks third all-time on UCLA’s Indoor Top 10 List after posting a 4.40m (14-05.25) at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational in February … The effort resulted in her second event victory of the indoor season … Named Second Team All-America at the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships with a 13th place finish … Was a scorer for the Bruins at the USC Dual Meet … Claimed fourth place in the Conference with a mark of 4.33m (14-02.50) at the Pac-12 Championships, the fifth highest mark in UCLA outdoor history … Placed 32nd in the region at the NCAA West Rounds to close out the season … Indoor Second Team All-American (Pole Vault) … Selected to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll for indoor track & field.
2023
Competed in three indoor and seven outdoor meets for the Bruins in 2023 … Recorded UCLA’s best mark in both indoor (4.06m, 13-03.75) and outdoor (4.15m, 13-07.25) seasons … Consistently a top performer for the Bruins, Abrille opened her indoor season with a third-place finish at the Dr. Martin Luther Jr. Invitational by clearing a mark of 4.00m … Finished second at the Dr. Sander Invite and ninth at the Don Kirby Invite ... Claimed the top four marks of the season for the Bruins during the outdoor campaign … Placed second at the Ben Brown Invitational to open the spring campaign (4.05m, 13-03.50) … Finished fifth in the Pac-12 Championships with her season-best mark of 4.15m … Claimed victory at the USC Dual Meet … Ranked 20th in the west after clearing 4.12m (13-06.25) at the NCAA west regional meet.
2022 (at Rutgers)
Placed second with a height of 4.15m (13’ 7.25”) (pole vault) at the Battle in Beantown … Placed second with a height of 4.16m (13’ 7.75”) (pole vault) at the Clemson Invitational ... Placed first with a height of 4.21m (13’ 9.75”) (pole vault) at the Rutgers Open.
2021 (at Rutgers)
Set a school record with the height of 3.65m (pole vault) ... Placed second with the height of 3.76 (pole Vault) at the Maryland Invitational ... Set a school record with the height of 3.90m (pole vault) at the Spire Institute Open … Placed second with a height of 3.61m (pole vault) at the Nittany Lion Opener … Placed third with a height of 3.86m (pole vault) at the Penn State Tri Meet … Placed third with a height of 4.20m (pole vault) at the Big Ten Championships.
High School
Lettered three years in track and field at Riverwood International Charter School ... Set a school record in the pole vault (13-0.25) ... Competed club with Pole Vault Atlanta.
Personal
Born in Atlanta, GA to parents Chris Abrille and Felisha Midgett … Has two younger brothers, Lincoln and Ledger, and a younger sister Charlie.
2024
KATERINA ADAMIEC
5-7 / Graduate Student
Pole Vault
Poway, Calif.
Poway HS
Had three top-three finishes in five appearances during the indoor season, including a second-place finish at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational (4.23m, 1310.5) … Cleared a personal best mark of 4.26m (13-11.75) at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational, which is fourth all-time on UCLA’s Top 10 Indoor List.
2023
Opened the indoor season with a first-place finish at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational on Jan. 21 (4.00m, 13-01.50) … Followed it up with a third-placed finish at the Dr. Sander Invitational a week later (3.90m, 12-09.50) … Competed in three indoor meets and six outdoor meets during the 2023 campaign … Recorded a season-best mark of 4.05m (13-03.50) at the Pac-12 Championships, placing eighth in the Conference … Cleared a mark of 3.97m (13-00.25) at the NCAA West Regional meet, placing 28th in the region.
2022
Competed in the Pole Vault in six meets over the season … Tied for a team seasonbest mark recording a 3.95m (12-11.50) vault at the West Coast Relays (April 1).
2021
Competed in nine total meets for the Bruins in her true freshman season … Made her UCLA outdoor debut at the Ben Brown Invitational in Fullerton, where she finished third overall with a clearance of 3.46m (11-04.25) … Finished fourth in the pole vault at the Stanford Invitational with a clearance of 3.70m (12-01.50) … Went on to improve her season-best mark in each of her final three outdoor competitions … Cleared 3.85m (12-07.50) at the West Coast Classic in Arizona, good for sixth place at the meet … Improved to 3.86m (12-08.00) in the Bruins’ dual meet against USC, scoring for UCLA with a third-place finish … Capped her freshman campaign with a season-best performance at the Pac-12 Championships, clearing 3.95m (12-11.50) to score for the Bruins in seventh place.
High School
Pole vault PR: 13-00.00 … Long jump PR: 16-05.00 … Triple jump: 35-06.50 … Palomar Athlete of the Year in 2018 … Poway High School Track & Field MVP in 2019 … Four-year letterwinner in track & field and two-year letterwinner in cheer … CIF State Finalist in the pole vault in 2019, clearing 12-08.00 for sixth place overall … Took fourth at the CIF San Diego Section Finals in 2019 with a clearance of 12-06.00 … Recorded a personal-best clearance of 13-00.00 at the Westview vs. Poway Dual Meet … Won the 2019 Palomar League title in the triple jump with a season-best mark of 35-05.75 … Took second at the Palomar League Finals in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 16-05.00 … Palomar League champ in the pole vault and triple jump as a sophomore in 2018.
Personal
Born in Pensacola, Fla., to parents Emily and David Adamiec … Has one brother, Nolan … From Poway, Calif. … Decided to attend UCLA because it was the “best place for me to further my athletic and academic career, and the campus and location are beautiful” … UCLA fans might not know that she competed internationally in gymnastics and swimming during her three years living in Japan … Describes her greatest athletic thrill as when she finally hit a near perfect bar routine at the Level 8 Region 1 championships with a stuck landing to win her last-ever gymnastics meet … Enjoys swimming, playing games at the beach, and watching movies.
2024 (Cross Country)
AUDREY ALLEN
5-4 / Redshirt-Sophomore Distance
Orinda, Calif. Miramonte HS
Competed in three races for UCLA ... Made her season debut at the Gans Creek Classic on Sept. 27, placing 62nd overall with a time of 21:15.0 ... Also raced at the Big Ten Championships (21:36.8) in Savoy, Ill. and NCAA West Regionals (21:59.3) in Colfax, Wash. ... Her appearance at the Gans Creen Classic was her first cross country competition since her true freshman campaign in 2021 ... named to the Fall 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
2024 (Track & Field)
Did not compete with the Bruins … Selected to the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll.
2023 (Cross Country)
Did not compete for the Bruins.
2023 (Track & Field)
Made her sole appearance of the 2023 indoor season at the Ken Shannon Invite… Ran a 17:29.30 in the 5000m event… Competed in one race during the outdoor season at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival… Finished the outdoor 5000m race in 17:11.74, the fourth-fastest time for the Bruins during the season.
2022 (Cross Country)
Did not compete for the Bruins.
2022 (Track & Field)
Ran three races for the Bruins during the outdoor campaign... Made her debut at the West Coast Relays on April 1, running the 5000m race... Also competed in the 5000m at the Chris Rinne Twilight, placing first... Finished fourth in the 3000m against rival USC, helping the Bruins capture the top five spots in the race.
2021 (Cross Country)
Competed in four meets as a true freshman this past cross country season … Made her UCLA debut at the Dellinger Invitational, where she finished as the Bruins’ top runner in 46th place overall (21:02.1) … Made her postseason debut at the Pac-12 Championships, scoring for the Bruins with a 52nd-place finish and a 6k time of 22:27.3 … Capped her year at NCAA West Regionals, going 21:39.5 for 90th place overall.
High School
Becomes a Bruin an impressive four years at Miramonte High School, where she picked up a 20th-place finish at the State Meet in 2018 and a seventh-place showing in 2019 … Junior cross country season saw her win 11 of the 12 meets in which she raced, including the Asics Clovis Cross Country Invite, where she posted a 5k PR of 17:49.2 … Also secured a victory at the 2019 NCS Section Meet, clocking a three-mile time of 17:27.2 … 2021 track season saw Allen notch personal-best times in the 1600m (4:58.48) and 3200m (10:26.06) … Also boasts relay experience, running legs on Miramonte’s 4x400m and DMR squads this past season … As a sophomore in 2019, she picked up six individual victories across the 1600m and 3200m.
Personal
Born in Berkeley, Calif., to parents Jefferson and Seanna Allen … Has an older sister, Emery … Plans to major in Business Economics at UCLA … Chose UCLA because, “…I wanted to challenge myself athletically and academically, I wanted to be a Division I athlete, and will have the opportunity to compete at a very high level while receiving an incredible education” … Says racing the 3200m at the Arcadia Invitational as a senior was her greatest athletic thrill … She PRed by 17 seconds down to 10:26.06 to break a 38-year-old school record that was set the same year her dad graduated from Miramonte … Admires elite track athletes Emma Coburn, Karissa Schweizer, Allyson Felix, and Sydney McLaughlin … Has a food account on Instagram that shows off plant-based recipes that she creates … Has six cats.
EMIE BERGER
5-5 / Freshman
Middle Distance
Mettman, Germany
Konrad-Heresbach-Gymnasium (HS)
Prior to UCLA
Competed club with TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen ... German champion at the U16 level in the 3k, at the U18 level in the 1,500m, and the U20 level in the 1,500m ... Placed fifth in the 2022 European Championships in the 1,500m ... Placed eighth in the 1,500m at the 2023 European Championships.
Personal
Born in 2006 in Dusseldorf, Germany ... Parents are Andrea and Jörg Berger ... Has three siblings: Mara, Bela, and Ruby ... Plans to major in psychology.
2024 (Cross Country)
KAHO CICHON
5-4 / Junior Distance
Fountain Valley, Calif. Fountain Valley HS
Competed in all but one of UCLA’s five races for the season ... Top result came at the Bill Dellinger Invitational in Eugene, Ore., as she placed 50th (21:15.3) ... Also competed at the Big Ten Championships (21:35.1) in Savoy, Ill. and the NCAA West Regionals (21:51.3) in Colfax, Wash. ... Named to the Fall 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
2024 (Track & Field)
Competed in three meets during the outdoor season … Ran three races in the 800m and two races in the 1500m … Competed in the 4x400m relay at the Stanford Invitational … Posted a season-best 2:12.88 in the 800m at the Bryan Clay Invitational in April … Selected to the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll.
2023 (Cross Country)
Competed in five races in her 2023 (Cross Country) campaign … Had a top finish of secondplace at the LMU South Bay Twilight, where her 21:06.6 in the 6000-meter race made her the second-fastest Bruin on the day … Was the third scorer for UCLA at the Bill Dellinger Invitational, finishing 37th (6000m, 21:16.5) … Ran a season-best 20:56.10 at the Pac-12 Championships in October … Placed 120th at the NCAA West Regionals, running a 21:31.2.
2023 (Track & Field)
Ran a 4:54.19 in the only indoor mile she competed in at the Dr. Sander Invite … Competed in four outdoor meets … Ran three 800m races and two 1500m races during her freshman campaign … Posted season-bests in both the 800m (2:10.66) and the 1500m (4:32.19) at the Bryan Clay Invitational in mid-April.
2022 (Cross Country)
A top three finisher for the Bruins in two of her four meets … She placed 65th at the Weis-Crockett Invitational (22:00.2), the second-fastest Bruin at the meet … Ran a 20:25.9 at the NCAA West Regional Championships in November to be the number three scorer for UCLA, placing 60th in the West.
High School
Attended Fountain Valley high school for four years ... Was a four-year letterwinner in both cross country and track & field ... Named MVP of both the cross country and track teams during her sophomore and senior seasons ... Two-time Surf League MVP in cross country (2019, 2021) ... 2021 Surf League Most Valuable Runner for the track and field season ... Earned OC Register Girls Athlete of the Week honors in May 2021 ... Named to the OC Register Girl’s track and field Dream Team in 2021 ... Won the CIF Division I Championship in the girl’s 800m in 2021 ... School record holder in the 800m (2:08) and 3-mile (16:57).
Personal
Born in Tokyo, Japan to parents Patrick and Miwako Cichon ... Has one younger brother, Shane, and three sisters: Simmone, Cheryl, and Lisa ... Chose UCLA because “when I visited, I fell in love with the team & the campus. The team is so genuine and constantly radiates positive energy. UCLA feels like home and being a part of this team feels like family” ... Describes greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill as “being able to give my all in races for my team, coaches, & myself” ... Admires Eluid Kipchoge and Sydney McLaughlin ... Enjoys trying new foods, running, traveling, nature, boba, and hanging out with friends in her free time ... Aspires to represent Japan someday in the Olympics or World Championships ... Majoring in business economics.
Career Honors
ALY CONYERS
5-3 / Senior Sprints
Columbia, S.C.
Heathwood Hall HS California
Two-time Indoor Second Team All-American (4x400; 2023-24)
Two-time Outdoor Second Team All-American (4x400; 2023-24)
2024
Ran nine races during the indoor season … Competed in the 4x400m, 400m, 300m, and 60m … Won the 4x400m relay at the New Mexico Team Open alongside teammates Kaylen Fletcher, Kate Jendrezak, and Naomi Johnson (3:36.80) … This relay team would go on to run the fourth fastest time in UCLA indoor history at the Eagle Elite Invitational on Feb. 10 (3:31.32) … Named Second-Team All America at the NCAA Division I Outdoor & Championships in the 4x400m relay with a tenth place finish …Opened the outdoor season with a first-place finish in the 400m and a second-place finish in the 200m at the Rafer Johnson & Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational … Captured third at the Texas Relays in the 4x400m relay … Ran a season-best 23.73 in the 200m at the UCLA “Legends” Invitational to place second … Competed in five races at the Pac-12 Championships, finishing second in the 4x400m relay, third in the 4x100m relay, seventh in 400m, and 12th in the 200m in the Conference meet … Qualified for the national championships with a third-place finish in the 4x400m at the NCAA West First Rounds, running the fourth fastest time in UCLA outdoor history with teammates Kaylen Fletcher, Kate Jendrezak, and Naomi Johnson (3:28.48) … Also finished 13th and 33rd in the region in the 4x100m and 400m events, respectively … Named Second-Team All America at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 4x400m, placing tenth in the nation … Ran a total of seventeen races in the outdoor season … Selected to the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll for indoor track & field.
2023
Appeared in 12 indoor races and 18 outdoor races during her first season with the Bruins … Found her rhythm at the Don Kirby Invite on Feb. 11, running a 23.86 for fourth place in the 200m event; her mark ranks seventh all-time for UCLA in indoor competition … The 4x400m relay team of Naomi Johnson, Conyers, Makenzy Pierre-Webster and Maddy Doane combined to run a 3:36.12 at Don Kirby, which is the eighth-fastest time in UCLA indoor track and field history … Conyers was also on the relay team that now holds the number two spot all-time (3:30.86), run at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invite in Seattle … Ran a season-best 54.03 in the 400m at Ken Shannon, ranking ninth all-time in UCLA’s indoor record books… Earned Second Team All-American with the 4x400m relay team at indoor nationals after placing 10th in the event … Ran six 400m races during the season … Cracked the all-time top 10 at the Pac-12 Championships, running a 52.19 in the race… Placed seventh in the Conference and secured 10th all-time with the team-best mark … Had two of the team’s top three times in the 400m … A key piece in UCLA’s relay teams, Conyers ran as the third leg in all five 4x100m relays and as the first leg in all five 4x400m races this season … Helped catapult the 4x400m to a fourth-place finish at the Texas Relays … The relay team ran a season-best 3:30.55 at the NCAA DI Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, taking home a 12th-place finish … Earned Second Team All-American with the result.
2022 (at California)
Raced in seven outdoor meets for Cal … Ran the 400m dash in 54.57 at the Pac-12 Championships … Took second with a personal-best time of 54.15 in the 400m at the Big Meet … Had a 400m time of 55.04 at the Mt. SAC Relays … Posted a personal-best 24.27 in the 200m at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational and won the 400m race with her time of 54.72 ... Appeared in five indoor meets for the Bears … Set a PR of 55.54 in the 400m dash at the Pac-12 Invitational, sixth-fastest in Cal history … Finished third in the 400m dash at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational with a time of 56.51 … Raced to a personal-best 25.17 in the 200m dash at the WSU Open … At the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational, finished the 200m dash in 25.29.
High School
Won the 2021 Foot Locker Scholar Athlete Award … Holds South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) State records in the 200m dash and the 400m dash … Competed in the 200m dash and 400m dash at the 2021 Outdoor Nationals Presented by Nike … Won SCISA State titles in the 200m dash, the 400m dash, and the 4x400m relay in 2021 while also taking second place in the 100m dash … Raced in the 200m dash, the 400m dash, and the 4x400m relay at the 2019 Virginia High School League (VHSL) 6A State Outdoor Track & Field Championships … Competed in that year’s New Balance Nationals Indoor in the 200m dash, the 400m dash and the 4x200m relay … Qualified for the VHSL 6A State Championships in the 300m dash after taking first in the event at the Patriot District Championship … Also won the 500m race at the District Championships … In 2018, entered the 400m, the 4x100m relay, the 4x400m relay and the sprint medley relay races, the latter of which earned her New Balance All American status, at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor … That year, helped her squad to a second-place finish in the 4x400m relay and a third-place finish in the 4x100m relay at the VHSL 6A State Championship, where she also competed in the 400m dash … At that year’s New Balance Nationals Indoor, raced in the 400m dash … At the 2018 VHSL Class 6A State Indoor Championships, finished second in the 4x400m relay … Was a member of Trust the Process Athletics … 4x New Balance nationals All American, 1x Virginia State Champion, 5x South Carolina State Champion, South Carolina Independent School Record Holder (200, 400), Foot Locker Award Winner … Ran club with Trust The Process Athletics.
Personal
Born in Kansas City, Kansas to parents Agatha and Alex Conyers … Has one brother, Ace … Chose UCLA because “UCLA has always been my dream school. It gives me the perfect balance of academics and athletics while located in one of the best cities in the world” … Describes her greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill as placing in 3rd at New Balance Nationals 2019 in the 4x400m … Admires Lebron James … Enjoys Politics and Fashion, and was featured in the Washington Post and Teen Vogue for her work as a Black Lives Matter activist … Plans to major in sociology.
2024 (Cross Country)
CARLY CORSINITA
5-3 / Senior Distance
Mission Viejo, Calif. Capistrano Valley HS Oregon
Competed in four of UCLA’s five races for the season ... Opened her season with a fifthplace finish (22:15.53) in the UCSB-UCR tri-meet ... Posted a time of 21:36.7 at the Big Ten Championships in Savoy, Ill. ... Also raced at the Bill Dellinger Invitational (21:59.1) and Gans Creek Classic (22:28.1) ... Named to the Fall 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
2024 (Track & Field)
Toed the line twice during the indoor season … Posted a 17:43.88 in the 5000m at the UW Invitational to finish 22nd …Ran in three races during the outdoor track and field season … Placed third in the 3000m at the UCLA vs. USC Dual Meet (10:03.78) ... Selected to the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll.
2023 (Cross Country)
Competed in two races during the 2023 (Cross Country) campaign … Placed 10th at the LMU South Bay Twilight, running a season-best 21:48.6.
2023 (Track & Field)
Ran in three meets for the Bruins during the outdoor track and field season … Placed fourth in the 3000m event at the USC Dual Meet, crossing in 9:57.54.
2022 (Cross Country)
Competed in two races during the 2022 campaign … Placed 11th at the Mammoth Dual Meet, crossing the line in 10:21.5 for the 3000m race … Ran a 21:20.2 at the Highlander Invite on Oct. 15, when the Bruins placed third as a team.
2020-21 (at Oregon)
Competed in the 5k at the West Coast Classic and Oregon XC Open during her freshman year.
High School
A four-year letterwinner at Capistrano Valley in cross country and track and field … Had three top-20 finishes at the CIF State Cross Country Championships including a career-high seventh as a junior in 2018 … Made debut at the Foot Locker National Championships with a 34th-place showing in 2019 … Was seventh at the Foot Locker regional meet … Twotime South Coast League champion in cross country (2016, 2019) … At the 2019 CIF State Track and Field Championships, finished 18th in the 3,200 meters … Runner-up at the CIFSS Division 2 meet … Established prep bests of 4:58.98 (1600m) and 10:29.63 (3200m).
Personal
Born in Newport Beach, Caliuf. to parents Juliet Corsinita, Patrick Corsinita … Has a brother, Luke … Chose UCLA “Because I felt it was the best combination of academic and athletic opportunity in an outstanding location, and it had a remarkable sense of community on the team”
… Describes her greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill as when she ran a massive 5K PR at Footlocker West, and unexpectedly qualifying for Footlocker Nationals … Admires Emma Coburn, Jonathan Quick, Kai Lenny … Enjoys surfing, videography, skiing, backpacking, watching LA Kings hockey … Graduated in June 2024 with a Bachelor’s in political science, and is currently pursuing a certificate in marketing from UCLA Extension... Aspires to pursue a career in sports marketing.
High School
VALENTINA FAKROGHA
6-3 / Freshman
Jumps
Ventura Beach, Calif. Ventura HS
Attended Ventura High School in Ventura, Calif. ... 2024 Ventura Star Girl’s Track and Field Athlete of the Year ... Finished first in the high jump at the 2024 CIF State Meet ... Finished her high school career with Ventura HS records in the 200m, 400m, high jump, and 4x400 relay ... Won three league high jump titles ... Finished fifth at the 2022 CIF Southern Section Division 2 Finals ... Helped Ventura set a national high school record in the distance medley relay at 11:21.85 ... New Balance Outdoor Nationals High School All-American.
Personal
Full name: Valentina Funebi Fakrogha ... Born in 2006 in Woodland Hills ... Father is Victor Fakrogha ... Has a brother, Doutimi ... Chose to attend UCLA because “UCLA is one of the top universities in the world, and provides a challenging and supporting environment where I can excel in athletics and pursue my education” ... Admires Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ... Plans on majoring in biochemistry, and aspires to a career in sports medicine.
2024
FLETCHER
5-8 / Graduate Student Jumps
Los Angeles, Calif. Wildwood Secondary School California
Competed in five indoor meets during her first season at UCLA … Made her debut as Bruin at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational in January … Notched a seventh-place finish in the triple jump at the meet … Recorded UCLA’s top indoor marks in the triple jump (12.56m, 41-02.5) and long jump (5.83m, 19-01.5), the triple jump mark seventh all-time in UCLA indoor track and field history … Was also the top performer in the triple jump during the outdoor season … Secured an event victory at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Jersee Invitational with a 12.84m (42-01.50) in the triple jump, cracking UCLA’s Outdoor Top 10 list … Placed 21st in the region at the NCAA West First Rounds … Appeared in five meets during the outdoor campaign in the triple jump and long jump.
2023 (at California)
USTFCCCA Honorable Mention … Competed in eight outdoor meets for Cal … Posted a triple jump mark of 13.06m (42-10.25) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships … Triple jumped 13.33m (43-9) at the NCAA West Preliminary, fourth-best in program history and 22nd in Division I that season … Set a wind-aided long jump mark of 6.12m (20-1) and a non-wind-aided triple jump mark of 12.73m (41-9.25) at the Pac-12 Championships … At the 95th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, leaped with the wind for a mark of 13.38m (43-10.75) in the triple jump … Posted a triple jump mark of 12.82m (42-0.75) at the Cardinal Classic … USTFCCCA All-Academic ... Competed in three indoor meets for Cal… At the Don Kirby Elite Invitational, posted a long jump mark of 5.70m (19-0) and a triple jump mark of 12.25m (40-2.25) … Finished second in the triple jump with a mark of 12.55m (41-2.25) and also set a long jump mark of 5.85m (19-2.5) at the New Mexico Team Open ... Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll selection.
2022 (at California)
Competed in eight outdoor meets … Posted a long jump mark of 6.18m (20-3.5) and a triple jump mark of 12.87m (42-2.75) at the NCAA West Preliminary … Won both the triple jump and the long jump at the Big Meet with respective leaps of 13.13m (43-1) and 6.00m (19-8.25) … At the Mt. SAC Relays, reached a mark of 13.10m (42-11.75) in the triple jump and 6.10m (20-0.25) in the long jump … Won the triple jump at the Aztec Invitational with a mark of 12.70m (41-8) … USTFCCCA All-Academic … Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll ... Competed in four indoor meets for Cal … Won the long jump at the WSU Open with a personal-best leap of 5.80m (19-0.5) … Won the triple jump at the WSU Invitational with a PR of 13.03m (42-9), fourth-best in school history.
2021 (at California)
Competed in eight outdoor meets… At the Big Meet, set the 25th-best triple jump mark of the season in Division I and fourth-best in the Pac-12 with her winning (and personal-best) leap of 13.26m (43-6)… Also took second place in the long jump at that meet, posting a distance of 5.81m (19-0.75)… Her long jump of 6.30m (20-8) at the West Coast Classic in Arizona was the sixth-longest in the conference that season, as well as a personal record… At that meet, she also won the triple jump with a leap of 13.22m (43-4.50)… Took first place in the long jump (5.90m/19-4.25) and second in the triple jump (12.61m/42-8.75) at the Cal-USC Dual… Had a best mark of 12.58m (41-3.25) in the triple jump at the Aztec Invitational… Competed in the long jump and the triple jump at the Trojan Invitational, reaching 5.89m (19-4) and 12.50m (41-0.25), respectively… Won the triple jump at the Cal-Sac State Dual with a wind-aided leap of 12.45m (40-10.25)… U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic… Named to the Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll... Appeared in one indoor meet… At the Air Force Collegiate Open, posted a long jump mark of 5.55m (18-2.5).
2020 (at California) Did not compete.
High School
Holds eight different records at Wildwood School… Two-time Wildwood girls track & field MVP… First athlete ever to be recruited from Wildwood… Named to the 2019 National Top Class Recruit Watchlist… Placed second in both the long jump and the triple jump at the 2019 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) South Section (SS) Division 4 Finals… Won the 100m, 200m, long jump and triple jump competitions at that season’s Coastal Canyon League (CCL) Finals… Finished third in the triple jump at the 2019 Arcadia Invitational… Won the long jump competition at the Nike Redondo Invitational that year… In 2018, placed third in the long jump at the CIF State Track & Field Championships after also winning the event in the CIF-SS Division 4 Finals and the CCL Finals… 2018 CCL 100m, 200m and 400m Champion… Competed in the long jump at that year’s Arcadia Invitational… As a sophomore, reached the CIF-SS Division 4 Finals in the long jump after taking second in the CCL Finals… Won CCL Championships in the 100m, 200m and 400m dashes that year… Also played volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball and tennis for the Wolves.
Personal Majored in cognitive science at California… Daughter of Mark and Patty Fletcher.
Career Honors
KAYLEN FLETCHER
5-4 / Junior Sprints
Los Angeles, Calif.
Bishop Alemany HS
San Jose State
2024 Second Team Outdoor All-America (4x400)
2024
Ran in ten indoor races and twenty-two outdoor races in her first season with the Bruins … Won the 4x400m relay at the New Mexico Team Open alongside teammates Aly Conyers, Kate Jendrezak, and Naomi Johnson (3:36.80) … This relay team would go on to run the third fastest time in UCLA indoor history at the Eagle Elite Invitational on Feb. 10 (3:31.32) … With a second-place finish, the mark resulted in one of five top-three finishes for the 4x400m relay team during the indoor season … Tied for tenth on UCLA’s Indoor Top 10 List running a 7.46 in the 60m at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational … Named Second-Team All America at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 4x400m relay with a tenth place finish … Took home an event victory in the 100m at the Texas Relays in March (11.42) … Captured third at the Texas Relays in the 4x400m relay … Collected two wins at the UCLA “Legends” Invitational in the 100m and 200m … Competed in five races at the Pac-12 Championships, finishing second in the 4x400m, third in the 4x100m, seventh in the 100m, and ninth in the 200m … Qualified for the national championships with a third-place finish in the 4x400m at the NCAA West First Rounds, running the fourth fastest time in UCLA outdoor history with teammates Aly Conyers, Kate Jendrezak, and Naomi Johnson (3:28.48) … Also finished 13th in the 4x100, 15th in the 200m, and 36th in the 100m at the regional meet.
2023 (at San Jose State)
Helped Women’s 1600m Relay team finish second at the 2023 Spokane Indoor Challenge with a time of 3:49.58 ... aided Women’s 1600m Relay team finish second at the New Mexico Team Open with a time of 3:46.20 ... third-best Women’s 200m Dash record with time of 24.09
High School
Named Team MVP ... Selected as a High School All-American in 2018 ... Played soccer in addition to track and field ... Head of the debate club and apart of National Honor Society in high school.
Personal Daughter of Princess and Jermaine.
2024
APRIL
FONTENETTE
5-11 / Sophomore
Throws
Los Angeles, Calif. Notre Dame High School
Appeared in three outdoor meets during her freshman season … Competed in the shot put and discus throw … Made her collegiate debut at the Ben Brown Invitational in the discus throw, posting a mark of 48.38m (158-09) to finish third … Claimed two additional top-three finishes on the season, including an event victory in the discus at the Stanford Invitational (46.97m, 154-01).
High School
Attended Notre Dame High School, competing as a thrower on the track & field team all four years… Threw shot put and discus ... Notched best marks of 162-8 in the discus and 45-2 in the shot put.
Personal
Born in Los Angeles, Calif., to parents Karla and Gregory … Has two brothers, Alonzo and Greg, and two sisters, Chynna and Janell … Hobbies and interests include art, music and fashion … Admires athletes Valarie Allman and Valerie Adams … Chose to attend UCLA because it “has been my dream school ever since middle school! The creativity, as well as both academic and athletic dedication this university holds, sealed my choice at UCLA” … Plans to major in business economics.
Career Honors
OLIVIA FOODY
5-2 / Freshman Distance
Thousand Oaks, Calif. Newbury Park HS
2024 Big Ten Cross Country All-Freshman Team
2024 (Cross Country)
Competed in three of UCLA’s five races during her true freshman season ... Earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors after finishing fifth among conference freshmen at the league championships on Nov. 1 ... Foody placed 53rd overall at the Big Ten Championships with a time of 20:19.9, second-best on UCLA behind Mia Kane ... Made her collegiate debut at the Bill Dellinger Invite on Oct. 11, placing 16th with a time of 20:31.2 ... Was 48th overall and second among UCLA racers at the NCAA West Regionals (20:39.7).
High School
Attended Aliso Niguel High School in Aliso Viejo, Calif. ... Earned three varsity letters in track and field, and two in cross country ... Was an All-County Pick in high school ... Named team Distance Runner of the Year and Cross Country Distance Runner of the Year in 2023 ... Had best times of: 3 mile (17:34), 1600 (4:57), 3200 (10:29).
Personal
Full name: Olivia Hope Foody ... Born in 2006 in Orange County ... Parents are Cheryl Smith and Chris Foody ... Has two siblings: Brennan and Amara ... Decided to attend UCLA because “it’s been my dream school since I was a kid” ... Admires running coach Jack Daniels ... Hobbies and interests include hanging out with friends and family, going to the beach, hot yoga, and traveling ... Started her track career as a 400m and 800m runner before transitioning to distance ... Her mother, Cheryl, was a professional runner, two-time All-American, and national title winner in 1984 ... Her stepfather, Jon Rankin, is UCLA’s all-time record holder in the 1500m (3:35.26) and mile (3:55.63), and was a Junior National Champion in the 1500m.
2024
SOPHIA HARTWELL
5-8 / Graduate Student Jumps
West Garden Grove, Calif. Orange Lutheran HS
Appeared in three indoor meets … Posted an indoor season-best in the long jump at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational (5.64m, 18-06.00) … Competed in six meets during the outdoor campaign … Had three second-place finishes on the season, including two at the UCLA “Legends” Invitational … Leaped an outdoor season-best in the long jump at the Mt. SAC Relays (5.87m, 19-03.25) … Finished 13th in the Pac-12 Conference with a mark of 11.94m (39-02.25) in the triple jump … Recorded a 5.68m (18-07.75) in the long jump to place 14th in the Conference.
2023
Competed in the long jump and triple jump at two indoor meets … Had a team-best mark of 12.26m (40-02.75) in the triple jump at the Don Kirby Invitational, finishing 17th at the New Mexico meet … Leaped into ninth all-time in UCLA’s indoor record book with the mark … Jumped in seven outdoor events … Holds the season-best mark for the Bruins in both the long jump (the Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational – 5.76m, 18-10.75 – 4th) and the triple jump (the Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational – 12.24m, 40-02.00 – 2nd) events … Placed 16th at the Pac-12 Championships.
2022
Competed in the Long Jump and Triple Jump during the season … Hit a season best mark in Long Jump at the USC Dual recording a jump of 5.57m (18-03.25) while recording an 11.77m (38-07.50) in the Triple Jump at the Bryan Clay Invitational.
2021
Competed in three outdoor meets and one indoor meet as a true freshman in 2021 … Made her UCLA debut at the Arkansas Qualifier (indoor), finishing 12th overall in the long jump with a mark of 4.62m (15-02.00) … Doubled in the long jump and triple jump in each of her three outdoor meets … Notched season-best marks in the long jump (5.05m, 1607.00) and triple jump (10.68m, 35-00.50) at the Jim Bush Legends Invite, finishing eighth and fifth overall in the events, respectively … Took fourth in the triple jump (10.56m, 3407.75) and sixth in the long jump (5.10m, 16-08.75) in the Bruins’ dual meet against USC.
High School
2019 CIF Southern Section Division 3 champion in the long jump (18-10.50) and triple jump (38-06.50) … 2019 CIF State qualifier in the long jump … Notched five victories in the long jump and seven victories in the triple jump as a junior in 2019 … Posted a personal-best long jump mark of 19-05.50 in Orange Lutheran’s meet against Servite/Rosary in a winning effort (April 4) … Opened her 2019 campaign with a career-best triple jump mark of 39-09.75 Also anchored Orange Lutheran’s 4x100m squad three times in 2019, including the CIF-SS prelims and finals … Took fourth place in the long jump and sixth place in the triple jump as a sophomore at the 2018 CIF-SS Division 3 Finals.
2024 (Cross Country)
AILISH HAWKINS
5-7
/ Sophomore Distance
Newbury Park, Calif.
Newbury Park HS
Participated in four of UCLA’s five regular season meets ... Placed sixth overall at the season-opening tri-meet with UC Santa Barbara and UC Riverside (22:27.78) ... Finished No. 54 at the Bill Delliger Invite hosted by Oregon (21:20.5) ... Raced at both the Big Ten Championships (20:58.1) in Savoy, Ill. and NCAA West Regionals (21:14.5) in Colfax, Wash. ... named to the Fall 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
2024 (Track & Field)
Competed in four outdoor meets in her freshman season … Placed 11th in her UCLA debut in the 1500m at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival (4:46.60) … Ran a seasonbest 10:42.00 in the 3000m steeplechase at the UCLA vs. USC Dual Meet, finishing second … Made her postseason debut at the Pac-12 Championships … Posted an 11:34.29 in the 3000m steeplechase to place seventh in the Conference meet.
2023 (Cross Country)
Did not compete for the Bruins.
High School
Attended Newbury Park High School where she ran cross country and track and field all four years ... Earned four varsity letters in both sports ... At the Mt. SAC Relays in 2022, she ran the opening of the 4x1600m relay, recording a time of 4:53.42 before handing off the baton ... The relay team finished in 19:52.88, setting a new national high school record mark in the event.
Personal
Born in Thousand Oaks, Calif. to parents Steve and Nessa ... Has two older siblings, Cian and Fiona ... Decided to attend UCLA because it was a “great opportunity athletically and academically” ... Plans to major in biochemistry ... Lists Athing Mu as the famous athlete she most admires ... Says her greatest athletic thrill to date was the 4x mile relay race in which her team broke the national high school record.
High School
Hallsville, Texas
Hallsville HS
Attended Hallsville High School in Hallsville, Tex. ... Medaled twice at the 2024 UIL 5A Girls State Meet, taking second in the
High School / Club
MIA HOLDEN
5-8 / Freshman Hurdles/Sprints
South Pasadena, Calif.
South Pasadena HS
Attended South Pasadena High School. ... Named the 2024 San Gabriel Valley Track and Field Athlete of the Year by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune ... In 2024, claimed CIF Division 3 titles in the 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles, the only athlete to win multiple titles ... Runner-up int eh 100mH at the 2024 CIF State Meet ... Fourth-place finisher in the 300mH at both the 2023 and 2024 CIF State meets ... Had three first-place medals at her league championship as a senior (100mH, 300mH, 200m) ... At the 2024 State Meet, she posted a best time of 13.81 in the 100m hurdles prelims ... SGV Tribune First Team All-Area in 100m, 100mH, and 300mH ... Three-time SGV Tribune Girls Athlete of the Week ... School record holder in the 100m, 100 hurdles, and 300 hurdles ... Helped SPHS to a runner-up finish at the CIF Division 3 Meet ... Three-time SPHS Team MVP and Hurdler of the Year ... Competed club with Codeblack Elite ... With Codeblack, won the 60mH title at the Spokane High School Invitational.
Personal
Full name: Mia Esi Holden ... Born in 2006 in San Gabriel, Calif. to parents Wen-Wen Cheng and Travis Holden ... Has a younger sister, Naya ... Both her parents attended UCLA ... Majoring in chemical engineering ... Aspires to a career in dentistry or orthodontics.
2024
AMBER JACKSON
5-9 / Junior Jumps/Sprints
Charlotte, N.C.
Ardrey Kell HS
Competed in four indoor meets … Placed fourth at the New Mexico Team Open ( 1.69m, 5-06.50) … Opened the outdoor season with a second-place finish at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational (1.62m, 5-03.75) … Placed third at the UCLA “Legends” Invitational … Leapt 1.66m (5-05.25) to finish 12th in the Conference at the Pac-12 Championships … Appeared in five meets during the outdoor season.
2023
Didn’t compete during indoor season … Made outdoor debut at the Ben Brown Invitational on March 10 … Third at Ben Brown with her mark of 5.66m (5-05.25) … Recorded UCLA’s team-best mark at the Bryan Clay Invitational (1.67m/5-05.75).
2022
Competed in three indoor and five outdoor meets during her freshman season ... Was first in the high jump at the West Coast Relays (1.72m, 5-07.75) and the USC Dual (1.70m, 5-07.00) ... Placed fifth with a mark of 1.71m (5-07.75) at the Pac-12 Championships.
High School
Four-year letterwinner for Ardrey Kell HS … 2019 and 2021 Ardrey Kell Field MVP … 2021 North Carolina State Champion in the high jump and long jump … 2021 State Runner-Up in the long jump … Owns lifetime-best marks of 5-09.00 in the high jump, 38-05.00 in the triple jump, and 18-01.00 in the long jump … Competed in eight different events as a senior in 2021 … Was undefeated in the high jump in five meets as a senior ... Outdoor Nationals qualifier in the high jump and triple jump, earning All-American acclaim in the high jump.
Personal
Born in Atlanta, Ga., to parents Andrea and John Jackson … Says UCLA has been her dream school since middle school … Admires track stars Allyson Felix and Sydney McLaughlin … Lists her greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill was finishing sixth at Outdoor Nationals her senior year … Enjoys working out, photography/modeling, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog … Was a competitive gymnast for 12 years and also played travel softball … Plans to major in psychology at UCLA.
2024 (Cross Country)
GEORGIA JEANNERET
5-6 / Freshman
Distance
Newport Beach, Calif.
JSerra Catholic HS
Did not compete for the Bruins in the fall.
High School
Attended JSerra Catholic High School, running track and cross country all four years ... Arrives in Westwood as a two-time JSerra High School Female Athlete of the Year (2023, 2024) and the 2024 Trinity League Female Athlete of the Year ... Won four Trinity League team titles with her cross country team and two Orange County Team Championships ... JSerra won three CIF Team Championships and three California State Team Championships during her time ... She was part of the two-time Nike Cross Nationals Team Qualifier squad ... Captured four individual titles in the Trinity League, winning both the 800m and 1600m events twice ... Ran in the three-time Trinity League Champion 4x400m relay team ... Part of the relay team that holds the All-Time Orange County record ... Also won four CIF event titles, two in the 800m and two in the 4x400m relay ... Recorded three podium finishes in the 800m at the California State meet ... Helped JSerra to three Trinity League Team Championships, three Orange County Team Championships and two CIF Team Championships ... Two-time track national champion, she claimed the indoor national title with the 4x800m relay and the outdoor mixed 4x400m championship ... Four-time All-American for the 4x800m relay, two-time All-American in the distance medley, an All-American Freshman in the 1600m, All-American for the indoor 800m.
Personal
Born in Torrance, Calif., to parents Amy and Brad ... has an older sister, Avery ... Lists Juliette Whittaker as an athlete she admires ... Describes her greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill as winning indoor nationals for the 4x800m and outdoor nationals for the mixed 4x400m relay ... Her hobbies and interests include going to the beach, napping at the beach and being with friends ... Has lived in Guam and Hawaii ... Chose UCLA because “the athletics and academics are highly competitive and demanding. The school is also beautiful.”
Career Honors
NAOMI JOHNSON
5-5 / Junior Sprints
Eastvale, Calif.
Eleanor Roosevelt HS
Two-time Second Team Indoor All-America (4x400; 2023-24)
Two-time Second Team Outdoor All-America (4x400; 2023-24)
2024
Competed in six meets during the indoor season … Claimed first at the New Mexico Team Open in the 4x400m relay (3:36.80) … Ran the third fastest 4x400m relay time in UCLA indoor history alongside teammates Aly Conyers, Kaylen Fletcher, and Kate Jendrezak at the Eagle Elite Invitational (3:31.32) to place second, resulting in one of five top-three finishes for the 4x400m relay team during the indoor season … Named Second-Team All-America at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 4x400m relay … Opened the outdoor season with a second-place finish in the 400m and a third-place finish in the 200m at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational … Finished second in the 400m at the UCLA “Legends” Invitational … Scorer for the Bruins in the 100m at the USC Dual Meet … At the Pac-12 Championships, placed 11th (100m), 10th (200m), third (4x100m relay), and second (4x400m relay) … Qualified for nationals in the 4x400m relay at the NCAA West Rounds with a mark of 3:28.48, the fourth fastest time in UCLA outdoor history … Achieved this mark with teammates Aly Conyers, Kate Jendrezak, and Kaylen Fletcher … Also placed 13th in the 4x100m relay, 25th in the 400m and 30th in the 200m at the regional meet … Closed out the season with Second-Team All America honors at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 4x400m relay … Finished 10th overall at the national championships … Appeared in seven meets total during the outdoor season.
2023
Ran 14 indoor and 21 outdoor races for the Bruins during her true freshman campaign … Began her indoor season at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational, running the 60m, 200m and 4x400m relays in her opening weekend with UCLA … Johnson ran a season-best 24.03 in the 200m event at the Don Kirby Invitational on Feb. 11; her mark ranks ninth on UCLA’s indoor all-time top 10 list … Johnson ran anchor on the 4x400m relay at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invite – the relay team ran a 3:30.86, which is the second-fastest indoor relay in Bruin history … Johnson also anchored the same relay at the NCAA indoor national championships … The Bruins finished 10th overall in the event (3:31.91) … Claimed first in the 200m (23.87) at the Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational on March 25 … Ran UCLA’s top time in the 200m when she recorded a 23.41 at the USC Dual Meet … Placed sixth in the Conference in the 100m; recorded an 11.49 in prelims before running an 11.54 in the final … One of only two Bruins to break the 53 seconds in the 400m (Mt. SAC Relays, Apr. 14 – 52.86) … Johnson ran 10 relay races in the outdoor season, the only Bruin to appear in each competition throughout the year … Ran the anchor leg in the 4x400m relay, which placed 2nd in the Conference at the Pac-12 Championships … Finished 12th in the nation at the NCAA outdoor national championships as the team ran a season-best 3:30.55.
High School
Four-year letterwinner for track & field at Eleanor Roosevelt High School ... Helped team to CIF Southern Section Division 1 team titles in 2019 and 2022 ... ERHS was CIF Division 1 runner-up in 2021 ... Part of a second-place 4x400 relay squad at the 2019 CIF State meet ... Sectional Champion in the 200m and 400m in 2022 ... Runner-up in the 200m at the 2022 Mt. SAC Relays ... Three-time all-league honoree in the 200m and 400m ... Ran club track for Speed Houze ... Competed at 2021 Junior Olympics.
Personal
Born in Long Beach, Calif. to parents Priscilla and Anthony Johnson ... Has a twin brother, Chris, an older brother Dontae, and two older sisters, Mikayla and Kia ... Chose UCLA because “of the amazing atmosphere I felt on my visit. I believe the coaches here will take me far and teammates will push me to be my best” ... Describes greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill as “winning CIF SS D1 championships in both of my events (400m, 200m). This was a major accomplishment of mine especially because the years before were taken away due to COVID, so coming back and winning my events was the best way to finish off senior year” ... Admires Allyson Felix and Michael Cherry ... Enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as drawing/painting and raising awareness for social fights for African Americans in her free time ... Her twin brother Chris plays football for SDSU as a defensive back ... Plans to major in sociology.
2024
SYDNEY JOHNSON
5-9 / Senior Multi
Roseville, Calif.
Whitney HS
Did not compete during the indoor season … Appeared in seven outdoor meets in the heptathlon, long jump, and high jump … Opened the season placing second in the heptathlon at the Sam Adams Combined Events/UCSB Invitational … Finished first at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational in the long jump … Scored a season-best 5,514 points in the heptathlon at the Bryan Clay Invitational to place first … Was a scorer for the Bruins in the long jump at the USC Dual Meet … Scored 5,437 in the heptathlon to finish fifth in the Conference at the Pac-12 Championships … Leaped 5.96m (19-06.75) to place 40th in the region at the NCAA West First Rounds in May … Selected to the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll for the indoor track & field season.
2023
Jumped a team-best 1.70m (5-07.00) in the indoor high jump at the Dr. Sander Invite, finishing first in the meet … Placed eighth at the Don Kirby Invite in the long jump event, recording a mark of 6.04m (19-09.75) in the New Mexico meet … Competed in 25 indoor events during the indoor season, completing three pentathlons during the campaign … Scored 3,855 points in the Ken Shannon Last Chance meet, which ranks seventh all-time for the indoor pentathlon ... Did not compete during the outdoor season.
High School
Team MVP for Whitney HS … Earned All-League (Sierra Foothill) and All-Section (SacJoaquin) honors … Owned high school best marks of 19-10.00 in the long jump, 39-02.25 in the triple jump, and 14.43 in the 100m hurdles … As senior in 2021, earned 12 victories in the long jump, 10 victories in the 100m hurdles, six victories in the triple jump, and five victories in the high jump … Finished third in the long jump and triple jump, as well as fifth in the 100H at the 2021 California State Track & Field Championships … Also a 2019 CIF State qualifier in the long jump, ultimately finishing fifth overall … Won the heptathlon competition at AAU West Coast Nationals with a final score of 4310 points … Had a high school-best heptathlon total of 4564 points.
Personal
Born in Sacramento, Calif., to parents Lisa and Douglass Johnson … Has an older sister, Shelby … Decided to attend UCLA for its “incredible academic programs, opportunities, and rich athletic history and promise” … Admires Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Allyson Felix, Sydney McLaughlin, and Nafi Thiam … Enjoys cooking, painting, and music … Has two dogs, Desi and Tilly.
2024 (Cross Country)
MIA KANE
5-4 / Senior Distance
Portland, Ore.
Lincoln HS
Entered three of UCLA’s five races during her senior season ... Was the Bruins’ top finisher in each of those three races ... Made her season debut at the Bill Dellinger Invite hosted by Oregon, placing 12th with a time of 20:23.9 ... Paced the Bruin women at the Big Ten Championships in Savoy, Ill. with a time of 20:13.9, good for 44th place ... Capped her season with a 20:33.4 at the NCAA West Regionals in Colfax, Wash. ... named to the Fall 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
2024 (Track & Field)
Competed in three meets during the indoor season … Posted a 9:15.16 at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational, the fourth fastest 3000m time in UCLA indoor history … Appeared in five outdoor meets… Had the top UCLA marks in the 3000m, 5000m, and 3000m steeplechase … Opened the outdoor season with an event victory in the 3000m steeplechase at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival … Her mark of 10:04.61 ranks second in UCLA’s outdoor record books … Top scorer in two events for the Bruins at the USC Dual Meet … Ran a 10:19.81 to become UCLA’s first Pac-12 Conference champion in the 3000m steeplechase … Finished 23rd in the region at the NCAA West First Rounds ... Selected to the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll for the indoor track & field season.
2023 (Cross Country)
Competed in all five meets in her 2023 (Cross Country) campaign … Was UCLA’s top runner in four of these appearances … Placed first overall at the LMU South Bay Twilight in September and was also the Bruins’ top runner on the day (6000m, 20:57.7) … She placed 31st (20:20.4) at the Pac-12 Championships to be the top scorer for the Bruins … Capped the season at the NCAA West Regionals, running a 20:43.2 for a 62nd place finish.
2023 (Track & Field)
Cracked the indoor all-time top 10 list in the 3000m event … Ran a 9:32.52 at the Dr. Sander Invite to place fourth in the meet, earning 10th all-time for the Bruins … Competed in four outdoor meets during the spring season … Claimed first at the USC Dual Meet, running a 9:45.76 in the 3000m event … Had the top three times for UCLA in the 5000m race … Her 16:19.02 sits at eighth all-time in UCLA outdoor track and field history; she placed fourth at the Bryan Clay Invitational with the mark … The Bruins’ top 5000m runner at the Pac-12 Championships, placing 15th in the Conference (16:43.29).
2022 (Cross Country)
UCLA’s second-fastest runner in three of her four appearances during the 2022 campaign … Ran a season-best 20:23.4 at the Pac-12 Championships, finishing 45th in the Conference with the result … Helped the Bruins defeat UCSD in the Mammoth dual meet, running a 9:57.9 in the 3000m competition.
2022 (Track & Field)
Competed in four indoor races and four outdoor races during her true freshman season ... Made her indoor debut at the Dr. Sander Invite, running in both the mile and distance medley relay ... Ran a season-best 4:49.99 in the mile at the Pac-12 Challenge in late February ... Ran the 1500m and 3000m during outdoors ... Posted a season-best mark in the 1500m at the PAc-12 Championships (4:28.16).
2021 (Cross Country)
Toed the line in five races as a true freshman … Made her UCLA debut at the Mammoth Tri-Meet, where she finished fifth overall with a 4k time of 15:57.0 … Finished in 15th place at the Highlander Invitational in Riverside, going 21:08.6 on the 6k course to finish as the Bruins’ top runner on the day … Made her postseason debut at the Pac-12 Championships, finishing in 50th place and scoring as the Bruins’ second runner … Capped her year at NCAA West Regionals, where she crossed with a 6k time of 22:47.8 for 166th place.
High School
Secured seven top-10 finishes ahead of a 19th-place showing at the State Meet as a senior … Went on to compete at the NXR Northwest Regional Championships, crossing with a 5k time of 18:23.8 … Also competed at NXN in 2019, finishing 97th overall with a time of 19:21.1 on the 5k course … Earned five top-three finishes during the 2018 cross country season, including a third-place finish at the Portland Interscholastic League Championships … Went on to finish 10th at State that year and advanced to NXR Northwest Regionals for the first time … Has experience running collegiate track distances from her high school training in Oregon, boasting PRs of 4:38.92m in the 1500m and 10:07.32 in the 3000m.
Personal
Born in Portland, Ore. … Has a younger sister, Sarah, and a younger brother, Benjamin … Something that people might not know is that she is Australian … Admires Damian Lillard and Allyson Felix … Decided to attend UCLA “not only because the academics are fantastic, but the athletic program is so historic and something so surreal to be a part of. To represent UCLA is an absolute dream and I am so honored to wear the same four letters as so many outstanding athletes.” … Lists greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill as competing at NXR and her coaching telling her if she got the girls in the next group, the team was going to NXN … Says she remembers feeling so inspired and ready to give everything she had for the team … Loves to ski, hike, swim, go camping, go to the beach, and hang out with friends and family.
High School
AVA KELLENBERG
5-9 / Freshman Jumps
Missoula, Mont. Sentinel HS
2024
Attended Sentinel High School in Missoula, Mont. ... Earned four varsity letters in track and field, and two varsity letters in volleyball as an outside hitter ... Two-time Montana State Champion in the triple jump (junior and senior seasons) ... Won a girl’s team state championship with Sentinel in 2021 ... Earned first team all-state and first team all-league honors in each of her four seasons on campus ... Also earned first team all-state honors in volleyball during her senior season.
Personal
Full name: Ava Loren Kellenberg ... Born in 2005 in Atlanta ... Parents are Derek and Rebecca Kellenberg ... Has a younger brother, Cal ... Decided to attend UCLA because “it was my dream school and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to attend a school with such a high level of education, a great track program, and perfect weather” ... Admires Anna Hall ... Hobbies and interests include film and movies, true crime, and cooking ... Is very interested in film production, and would love to be part of that in one way or another in the future.
MACKENZIE KIRK
6-0 / Junior Jumps
Seal Beach, Calif.
Los Alamitos HS
Competed in two meets during the outdoor campaign … Made her collegiate debut at the UCLA “Legends” Invitational in the long jump, posting a mark of 5.31m (17-05.25).
2023
Did not compete with the Bruins.
High School
Attended Los Alamitos High School, competing in varsity track and field all four years … Won her league’s high jump and long jump two out of her four years … Won the league triple jump all four years in high school … Named All-Orange County in the triple jump during her senior year.
Personal
Born in Orlando, Fla., to parents Robin and Derek … Lists her hobbies as dancing, crocheting and playing piano … Her favorite animal is a capybara … Admires Coco Gauff … Decided to attend UCLA because it has “a great academic reputation, and it’s close to home” … Majoring in neuroscience with a career objective of becoming a physician.
2024 (Cross Country)
QUINCI LOTT
5-2 / Freshman
Distance
Dana Point, Calif.
Dana Hills HS
Entered into three of UCLA’s five races during her true freshman season ... Made her collegiate debut in Big Bear, Calif. on Aug. 30 in the season-opening tri-meet with UC Santa Barbara and UC Riverside, earning a ninth-place finish with a 6k time of 22:47.09 ... Also competed at the Gans Creek Classic (22:45.5) and Bill Dellinger Invite (22:34.8), with the latter representing a new PR.
High School
Attended Dana Hills High School, where she competed in both cross country and track for four years … Lettered three times in each sport … Helped Dana Hills secure two League Champion titles (2021, 2022) and two CIF-SS Championships (2022, 2023) … Named First Team All-CIF Southern Section, First Team All-County and First Team All-League.
Personal
Born in Dana Point, Calif., to parents Kandi and Cutler … Has an older brother, Liam, and younger sister, Colbi … Lists Sydney McLaughlin and Allie Ostrander as athletes she admires … Says her greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill was “breaking 5 minutes in the 1600, or winning CIF Finals with my team my senior year. Both moments were a testament to my hard work and I proved to myself what I was capable of” … Her hobbies include hiking, baking and cooking, sewing, scrapbooking and reading … When asked why UCLA, she said “I decided to attend UCLA because of its prestige in both academics and athletics. To me, there is no other college that has the same level of academics and athletics while being in best place ever — Southern California!” … Plans to major in psychobiology.
High School
KAYLA McBRIDE
5-6 / Freshman
Sprints
Chino Hills, Calif.
Ayala HS
Earned four varsity letters at Ayala High School in Chino Hills, Calif. ... Was a CIF Southern Section and Palomares League champion in the 400 ... Her best times in high school included the 100 (11.81), 200 (23.79), and 400 (53.81) ... Was a MileSplitCA First Team All-State pick in 2023 ... At the 2024 CIF State Championships, placed fifth in the 200 dash ... At the 2024 CIF SS Championships, also placed runner-up in the 200 and helped Ayala to a third-place finish in the 4x100 relay.
Personal
Full name: Kayla Pamela McBride ... Born in Pomona in 2006 ... Parents are Loy and Myriam McBride ... Has two siblings, Kyle and Lauren ... Chose to attend UCLA because of “the competitiveness of the athletics and the high-ranked academics” ... Admires Sydney McLaughlin ... Enjoys going out to eat and shopping with friends ... She and Kyle are twin siblings ... Is left handed ... Her uncle, Tod McBride, played college football at UCLA before playing parts of six NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, and St. Louis Rams from 1999-2004 ... Her father, Loy McBride, played baseball and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins.
2024
JADE McDONALD
5-6 / Senior Jumps/Hurdles
Long Beach, Calif.
Long Beach Poly HS Iowa
Did not compete for the indoor season … Competed in six outdoor meets in the 400m hurdles, long jump, and triple jump events … Claimed an event victory at the UCLA “Legends” Invitational in the long jump, recording a season-best mark of 5.66m (18-07.00) … Made her postseason debut for the Bruins at the Pac-12 Championships, placing 16th in the Conference in the long jump (5.65m, 18-06.5) … Finished 14th in the Conference in the triple jump (11.79m, 38-08.25) …
2023
Appeared in two indoor meets during her first season in a UCLA uniform … Competed in the long jump and triple jump events … Recorded an indoor-seasonbest mark of 12.19m (40-00.00) in the triple jump at the Dr. Sander Invite; claimed 10th all-time for indoor Bruin marks … Jumped in five competitions during the outdoor season … Posted a season-best in the long jump at the Jim Click Shootout (5.60m, 18-04.50) … Claimed third at the Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invite, placing on the triple jump podium with her 12.08m (39-07.75) mark.
2022 (at Iowa)
Posted season bests in 60-meter hurdles (8.52) and triple jump (40-0 1/2, 12.20m) at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, and long jump at Jimmy Grant Invite (18-2 1/2, 5.55m) … Posted season bests in 110-meter hurdles at Mt. SAC Relays (14.13) and triple jump at Jim Click Shootout (39-2 1/4, 11.94m) … Posted windaided marks in 100-meter hurdles (13.97) and long jump (18-7, 5.66m) at Musco Twilight … Posted season-best triple jump (39-2 1/4, 11.94m) at Drake Relays.
Personal
Born in Long Beach to parents Holly and Billy McDonald … Has an older brother, Miles … Chose UCLA because of the great academics, beautiful campus, and track program … Describes her greatest athletic thrill as going to Cuba to train for a jumping program … Enjoys Art, thrifting, photography … Plans to major in sociology.
2024 (Cross Country)
ELLA McGILLIS
5-3 / Freshman Distance
Portland, Ore.
Central Catholic HS
Appeared in three of UCLA’s five races during her true freshman campaign ... Made her collegiate debut on Aug. 30 in Big Bear, Calif. in the team’s season-opening tri-meet against UC Santa Barbara and UC Riverside, finishing 11th with a time of 23:00.98 ... Also competed in the Gans Creek Classic (22:03.4) and Bill Dellinger Invite (22:14.9).
High School
Attended Central Catholic High School … Ran cross country and track & field for all four years, earning eight letters across the two sports … Was the 2021 district meet champion in the 800m… A school record holder in the 3000m track event and cross country 5000m race … Three-time district meet champion in cross country (2021-23) … 2022 state cross country meet runner-up, earning first team all-state … Two-time Second Team All-State (2021, 2023) … 2022 district meet champion in the 1500m and 3000m events … Was the district meet champion in the 800m and 1500m in both 2023 and 2024 … 2021 All-State Honorable Mention (1500m), 2022 All-State Honorable Mention (3000m), 2023 All-State Honorable Mention (800m, 1500m), 2024 All-State Honorable Mention (800m), 2024 First Team All-State (4x400m) … 2024 Track and Field Mount Hood Conference Runner of the Year … Ran at the Nike Cross Regionals twice (2022, 2023) and Nike Outdoor Nationals in 2023 … Named to the All-Region team after placing 10th at the 2022 Nike Cross Regionals.
Personal
Born to parents Robyn and Jeff … Has a younger brother, Nate … Lists Courtney Frerichs and Elle Purrier as athletes she admires … Her greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill “was my last race of high school at Oregon track state. My teammates and I were in the 4x400 seeded in the slower heat. We ran for each other and we really just came together. We were then announced as 2nd overall in the 4x400. It was the most surprising but rewarding race and even better that it was shared with my 3 other teammates” … Her hobbies include being outdoors and swimming at cool spots, watching reality television, and trying new restaurants … Chose UCLA because “I felt that it was the school that would push me out of my comfort zone so I can continue to grow. It challenges me in all aspects from athletics to academic with so many connections because of the LA area. Of course, it’s also amazing sunny weather” … Plans to major in business economics with a career objective of working in marketing or PR.
Ran eight races in three meets during the indoor season … Opened the season with a firstplace finish at the Charlie Thomas Invitational in February in the 60m hurdles (8.19) … Ran 7.55 in the 60m to take home second at the Don Kirby Invitational … At the same meet, ran a 23.91 in the 200m to finish third and claim the eighth spot on UCLA’s Indoor Top 10 List … Began the outdoor season with a victory in the 100m hurdles at the Rafer Johnson/ Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational … Won the 100m hurdles event at the USC Dual Meet (13.06) … Finished third in the Conference in the 4x100m relay and fifth in the 100m hurdles at the Pac-12 Championships … Finished 11th (100m hurdles) and 13th (4x100m relay) at the NCAA West First Rounds to close out the season … Appeared in seven outdoor meets.
2023
Ran 13 races during her first indoor season with the Bruins … All 11 of her marks in the 60m hurdle event were fast enough to crack UCLA’s indoor all-time top 10 list … Landed at second all-time, trailing only UCLA Athletics Hall of Famer Dawn Harper (7.98 - March 11, 2006) … Recorded a season-best 8.01 during the preliminary round of the NCAA indoor national championships … Finished with First Team All-American status with the result … UCLA’s top 100m hurdler in the outdoor season, Ndjip-Nyemeck recorded five of the team’s top seven marks during the 2023 indoor campaign … Also competed in one 4x4100m relay, placing eighth at the Mt. SAC Relays with the Bruins (44.25) … Competed in six 100m hurdle events, recording 13.18 twice … Placed sixth in the league by running a 13.62 at the Pac-12 Championships … Ran 12.99 at the NCAA West Regional Meet; the first Bruin to break the 13 second mark since Brea Buchanan in 2013 … Placed 14th in the west at the regional meet ... Placed second in her heat of the 100m hurdles, running 13.28, and finished 7th in the semifinals at the European U-23 Championships.
2022 (at CSUN)
Lowered the CSUN school, school freshman, and Big West record in the 100m hurdles to :13.02 as she placed 13th in the second round of the NCAA West Regional ... Won the race in a time of :13.36 ... Won four of the 100m hurdles races which she entered ... Finished second in the 200m at the Big West Championship with a season-best time of 23.91, the fourth-fastest by a freshman in school history ... Won the 200m at the CSUN Invitational ... Named Academic All-Conference ... Did not compete in indoor.
2021 (at CSUN) Did not compete.
High School
A 2020 graduate of St. Anthony High School in Long Beach, Calif. … Posted high school bests of 11.84 in the 100m and 24.64 in the 200m … Ran at the 2018 Belgium U-18 Indoor National Championships in the 60m hurdles, winning the race in a time of 8.38 … Set the Belgian U18 record and held the fastest world U18 time in the 60m hurdles (30 inch) with a time of :8.26 that was run in 2019 … Graduated Sum Cum Laude.
Personal
Daughter of Roger and Ginette Ndjip-Nyemeck ... Favorites include Allyson Felix, Kendra Harrison, Dina Asher-Smith, Criminal Minds, Bad Boys, and Alicia Keys … Lists greatest sports moment so far is setting the U18 Belgian U18 record and holding the world’s fastest time in the 60m hurdles by running a time of 8.26 … Her advice to young people is hard work always pays off.
Career Honors
ROSE PITTMAN
5-11 / Graduate Student Sprints/Middle Distance Adeleide, South Australia, Australia
St. Peter’s Girls School
2023 Indoor First Team All-American (Distance Medley Relay)
2023 Outdoor Second Team All-American (800m)
2024 (Cross Country)
Raced in each of UCLA’s final three competitions on the season ... Was UCLA’s thirdbest finisher at both the Bill Dellinger Invite (21:09.5) in Eugene, Ore. and the Big Ten Championships (20:45.2) in Savoy, Ill. ... Posted a time of 21:26.2 at the NCAA West Regionals.
2024 (Track & Field)
Ran three races in the 800m during the indoor season … Opened the indoor season with a fourthplace finish at the UW Invitational, running the third-fastest 800m time in UCLA indoor history … Appeared in six outdoor meets … Competed in the 800m, 1500m, and 4x400m relay events … Won the 1500m event at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival to begin the outdoor season (4:23.79) … Ran a 2:03.63 at the Bryan Clay Invitational, the third fastest 800m time in UCLA outdoor history … Top scorer for the Bruins at the USC Dual Meet … Posted a fifth-place finish in the Conference at the Pac-12 Championships (2:05.40) … Finished 13th in the region at the NCAA West First Rounds … Selected to the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll for the indoor track & field season.
2023 (Cross Country)
Ran in two meets in her senior campaign … Finished 82nd with a 21:55.2 at the Pac-12 Championships.
2023 (Track & Field)
Ran eight races during the indoor campaign … Opened the season winning her 400m heat at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational (56.39) … Ran the third leg in the first-place 4x400m relay team at the Dr. MLK Jr. Invite … Competed in three 800m races during the indoor season … Jumped up to fourth on the indoor all-time top 10 list at the David Hemery Invite In February, running a 2:05.80 … Also ran the third leg of UCLA’s Distance Medley Relay at the Boston meet … That DMR group ran a 10:54.49, UCLA’s new school record … Pittman and the relay team went on to claim fourth at the NCAA indoor national championships … Ran seven races during the 2023 outdoor season, all in the 800m … Opened the season with a second-place finish at the Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational … Steadily improved her time throughout the season, claiming the top seven spots on UCLA’s performance list … Finished 11th in the Conference, running a 2:07.08 at the Pac-12 Championships … Decided 11 was her lucky number, finishing in 11th during both rounds of the NCAA West Regional meet to qualify for outdoor nationals … Ran a personal-best 2:03.77 in the national meet, placing 16th in the NCAA … Jumped up to third all-time for the Bruins with the mark; only the third Bruin in history to run sub-2:04 (Tiffany Burgess – 2002; Lena Nilsson – 2002).
2022 (Cross Country)
Did not compete for the Bruins.
2022 (Track & Field)
Ran three indoor races during the season ... Appeared in the 4x400m relay, the distance medley relay and the 800m events ... Ran the first leg on the DMR (11:25.24) at the Pac-12 Challenge to claim fourth in the race and the ninth-fastest time in UCLA indoor history ... Also cracked the indoor all-time top 10 in the 800m, running 2:07.65 at the Husky Classic ... UCLA’s top 800m runner during the outdoor campaign, Pittman ran the top five times of the season ... Claimed first at the West Coast Relays on April 1 (2:06.22) ... Also won the event at the USC Dual Meet, running 2:05.12 ... Made UCLA’s outdoor all-time top 10 with the mark ... Placed seventh in the league, running 2:06.14 at the Pac-12 Champinships on May 15 ... Finished 31st in the west at the NCAA West Prelims.
2021 (Cross Country)
Did not compete for the Bruins.
2021 (Track & Field)
Did not compete for the Bruins in 2021 … Did compete back home in Australia and recorded a 2:04.63 performance in the 800m in April.
High School
400m PR: 54.69 … 800m PR: 2:05.14 (U-18 State women’s record holder) … Attended St. Peter’s Girls School in Adelaide, Australia … Won the 400m and 800m at the 2020 Open Women’s State Championships … Won the 400m competition at the Australian All Schools Championships in 2017 … Won the 800m at Australian All Schools Championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018 … At the Australian U-18 Championships, took second in the 400m and third in the 800m.
Personal
Born in Adelaide, Australia to parents David and Sophie Pittman … Has a brother, Darcy, and a sister, Dimity … Visited the United States in 2016 and fell in love with UCLA and Drake Stadium … Notes, “After my recruitment trip, I loved the dynamic of the track team and how prestigious the college was for its academics and athletics” … Lists one of her greatest athletic thrills as racing in one of the boys races at a state competition, and ultimately winning and running a personal-best time … Admires sprinter Allyson Felix … Enjoys cooking, spending time with friends and family, and taking her dogs for beach walks … Something interesting about her is that she has never seen snow.
Prior to UCLA
CELESTE POLZONETTI
5-8 / Freshman Hurdles
Desio, Italy
Istituto Labor (HS)
Competed club with Bracco Atletica ... In 2024, was the U20 Italian Champion in the 60mH and 100mH ... At the 2024 senior Italian Championships, placed fifth in the 100mH and sixth in the 60mH ... Was 12th in the 100mH at the 2024 U20 World Championships ... In 2023, was the U20 Italian Champion in the 60mH and 100 mH, while finishing fourth at the U20 European Championships in the 100mH ... In 2022, was the U18 Italian Champion in the 100mH, placing fourth at the U20 European Championships in the same event ... Was a U16 Italian Champion in the 80mH and U18 Champion in the 100mH.
Personal
Born in 2005 in Monzia, Italy ... Plans on majoring in psychology.
2024
JORDAN ROBINSON
5-7 / Junior Jumps
Morristown, N.J. Morristown HS
Appeared in three meets during the indoor season in the high jump … Had a top 20 finish at the Don Kirby Invitational … Competed in five outdoor meets during her sophomore season … Secured second at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational … Recorded a season-best 1.72m (5-07.75) at the UCLA “Legends” Invitational to place first in the event … One of two scorers for the Bruins in the high jump at the USC Dual Meet, posting a 1.70m (5-07.00) … Selected to the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll for the indoor track & field season.
2023
Ran one race and jumped in three events during her true freshman indoor season with the Bruins … Cleared a season-best 1.70m (5-07.00) at the Dr. Sander Invite in late January to claim second at the meet; trailed only teammate Sydney Johnson in the competition … Appeared in three meets for UCLA during the outdoor campaign … Cleared her season-best mark of 1.65m (5-05.00) in all three appearances … Placed third at both the Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner Kersee Invitational (March 25) and the USC Dual Meet (April 30) to score points for the Bruins … Finished 11th in the Conference at the Pac-12 Championships.
2024 (Cross Country)
ANNIKA SALZ
5-6 / Junior Distance
San Diego, Calif. Torrey Pines HS
Raced in all five of UCLA’s competitions for the season ... Was the Bruins’ top finisher at the season-opening tri-meet with UC Santa Barbara and UC Riverside in Big Bear, Calif., finishing fourth overall with a 6k time of 22:15.28 ... Placed third among Bruin racers at the Gans Creek Classic (21:47.0) ... Posted times of 21:28.8 at the Big Ten Championships in Savoy, Ill. and 21:46.1 at the NCAA West Regionals in Colfax, Wash. ... Named to the Fall 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.
2024 (Track & Field)
Competed in two indoor meets for the Bruins … Recorded a 10:13.11 in the 3000m at the Husky Classic … Ran an 18:02.80 in the 5000m at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational ... Appeared in three races during the outdoor campaign in the 3000m, 5000m, and 10,000m events … Placed second in the 10,000m at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival after posting a mark of 37:01.44 … Selected to the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll for the indoor track & field season.
2023 (Cross Country)
Toed the line twice for UCLA in her sophomore season … Made her postseason debut at the Pac-12 Championships, finishing 87th with a 22:17.0 in the 6000-meter race.
2023 (Track & Field)
Ran one race for UCLA during the outdoor track and field season … Posted a 17:57.19 at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival in the 5000m event.
2022 (Cross Country)
Appeared in two meets for the Bruins, the Mammoth UCLA-UCSD Dual Meet and the Highlander Invite ... Scored for the Bruins at the Highlander meet, running a 21:12.6 in the mid-October competition … Placed 34th overall and fourth on the Bruin squad.
High School
Ran Cross Country and Track at Torrey Pines High School, lettering in both all four years ... 2021 CIF SDS XC Team Champion, All-League Avocado West all four years for XC, All-CIF 2021 for XC.
Personal
Born in San Diego, Calif. to Lisa and Don ... Has an older brother, Nick ... Decided to attend UCLA because it was an encouraging and competitive environment both academically and athletically, with extremely talented peers and teammates ... Says her biggest athletic thrill was “winning the Arcadia Invitational 4x1600 my junior year, the first large invite after COVID” ... Admires Molly Seidel, Emma Coburn, Justin Herbert ... Enjoys baking, reading, watching movies, cross-country skiing ... Intends to major in mathematics and linguistics with the objective of becoming a math professor.
2024
HANNAH SLOVER
6-2 / Sophomore Jumps
Los Gatos, Calif.
Los Gatos HS
UC Santa Barbara
Appeared in one meet for UCLA during the outdoor season … Posted a mark of 1.62m (5-03.75) in the high jump at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational.
High School
Played volleyball at Los Gatos High School … Led her team in the CIF State Championship as a freshman back in 2019 … Also competed in track, becoming the CIF State Champion in the high jump after clearing 5-feet-8-inches at the state meet.
Personal
Daughter of Scott and Kerri Slover … has a younger brother, Sean … plans to major in psychology and brain sciences.
Team USA
TAYLOR
SNAER
5-7 / Sophomore Sprints
Manteca, Calif.
East Union HS
Modesto JC
Earned a spot on the Team USA roster for the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, competing in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100 relay ... Finished fifth in the 200m at the U20 Worlds with a time of 23.31, after winning her preliminary heat and placing second in her semi-final heat ... Made it to the semi-finals of the 100m ... Ran finals for Team USA’s 4x100 relay ... Clinched a Team USA roster spot by placing second in both the 100m and 200m at the 2024 USATF U20 Championships.
Modesto Junior College (2023-24)
Spent her freshman season at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, Calif. ... Broke the school’s 4x100 relay record ... Named Most Valuable Track Athlete at the 2024 State Meet ... Won the 100m and 200m dashes, and finished runner-up in the 4x100 relay, at the 2024 3C2A California State Championships ... Was a four-time champion at the 3C2A Northern California Trials in the 100m, 200m, 4x100 relay, and 4x400 relay; Name Most Valuable Athlete after the meet ... Triple champion at the 2024 Big 8 Championships, taking the title in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100 relay en route to Big 8 Most Valuable Athlete honors ... Made her collegiate debut at the Jim Linthicum Invitational, sweeping the three events she competed in (100m, 200m, 4x100) ... Placed sixth in the 100m at the Mt. SAC Relays.
High School
Attended East Union High School in Manteca, Calif. ... Served as team captain her junior and senior seasons ... School record holder in the 100m, 200m, and 400m ... League champion in the 100m and 200m as a senior ... All-league in 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4x400 as a junior ... Also lettered in basketball and cross country ... Was a three-time league MVP, and one-time all-area MVP in basketball ... Earned all-league honors as a freshman in both basketball and cross.
Personal
Full name: Taylor Raian Snaer ... Born in 2005 in Manteca, Calif. to parents Demitrius and Melissa Snaer ... Has an older sister, Jadyn ... Chose UCLA because of “the great coaches that were coming in and the positive team atmosphere” ... Cites competing with the U20 Team USA team as her greatest pre-UCLA athletic thrill ... In her free time, enjoys baking scones and hanging out/traveling with friends and family ... Her father, Demitrius, was a two-time All-American at Fresno State ... Her sister, Jadyn, is the 60m record holder at Cal Poly ... Plans on majoring in psychology, and aspires to a career as a sports psychologist.
Career Honors
LYVANTE SU’EMAI
5-7 / Senior Throws
Queensland, Marsden, Australia Marsden State High School
Two-time Second Team Outdoor All-American (discus; 2023-24)
2024
Appeared in nine outdoor meets during her junior season … Competed in the discus, hammer, and shot put … Opened the season at the Ben Brown Invitational with two second-place finishes in the discus and hammer … Had event victories at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie-Joyner Kersee Invitational and the UCLA “Legends” Invitational in the discus … Was a scorer for the Bruins at the USC Dual Meet … Placed third in the Conference in the hammer, seventh in the discus, and tenth in the shot put at the Pac12 Championships … Finished 12th and 20th in the region at the NCAA West First Rounds … Named a Second-Team All American at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a 13th place finish in the discus (55.27m, 181-04).
2023
UCLA’s top shot putter in the indoor season, Su’emai competed in four indoor meets for the Bruins … Also threw in the weight throw events at each of the meets in which she appeared … Opened the season with a fourth-place finish in the shot put (15.33m, 50-03.50) at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational … Paired it with a seventh-place mark in the weight throw … Had four of UCLA’s top five throws of the season in the shot put … Recorded a team-season-best mark of 15.36m (50-04.75) at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invite … Launched the weight throw at the same meet for a mark of 18.75m (61-06.25), which placed her ninth all-time for UCLA in indoor competition … Threw shot put, hammer and discus during the outdoor season … Appeared in 17 events for the Bruins during the 2023 campaign … Made her first splash at the Ben Brown Invitational, capturing second place in the discus … Followed it up with a second-place finish in the hammer throw and discus events during the UCLA-hosted Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational two weeks later … Hit her groove in the hammer throw during April, making her way onto UCLA’s all-time top-10 list … Placed fourth in the Conference at the Pac-12 Championships in May, throwing 63.57m (208-07) … That mark ranks eighth all-time for the Bruins … Started peaking in the discus throw at the right time … Captured fifth place at the Conference meet (54.40m, 178-06) … Qualified through the NCAA west regional meet before throwing a season-best mark of 55.69m (182-08) at the NCAA outdoor national championships … Placed 11th in the NCAA with the team-season-best mark.
2022
Competed in five indoor meets during her true freshman season, recording UCLA’s top mark of the season in both the shot put and weight throw events ... Made her outdoor debut at the Ben Brown Invitational on March 11th, throwing an alltime top 10 mark of 59.70m (195-10) in the hammer throw event ... Competed in 26 events at nine meets during the outdoor season ... Earned the Bruins’ top mark in the shot put, discus and hammer throws during her inaugural campaign.
High School
Attended Marsden State High School … Australian U20 champion in the shot put and discus, earning both titles in 2021 … Picked up seven victories in the shot put in 2021, including a win at the Australian Championships with a mark of 15.11m (April 17) … Won all six of her shot put competitions in 2020 … Won the shot put competition at the Queensland Championships with a throw of 14.21m (Mar. 5) … Set a personalbest in the preliminary flights, posting a mark of 14.48m … Also took second place in the discus (51.75m) and hammer throw (49.58m) at the Queensland Championships (Mar. 5) … Earned victories in the shot put (13.51m) and discus (51.01m) at the Norma Croker Shield in January, 2020 … Won the discus competition (51.18m) and finished second overall in the shot put (13.77m) at the Australian U20 Championships.
Personal
Born in Marsden, Queensland, Australia to parents Geraldine and Faitala Su’emai … Has two brothers, Tyreese and Taylah, and three sisters, Nehmia, Jahmaix, and Sirray … “Everything about UCLA is amazing, but as a Polynesian, I was inspired to become a Bruin because of the UCLA legend, Seilala Sua. She has accomplished so much and I aspire to follow in her footsteps.” … Admires Seilala Sua, Dame Valerie Adams, Beatrice Faumuina, and Alex Rose … Enjoys music, drawing, cultural (Samoan) activities, and time spent with family.
Prior to UCLA
JANA VAN SCHALKWYK
Graduate Student
Javelin
Melkbosstrand, South Africa
Stellenbosch University (HS)
Silver medalist at the 2023 African Games in the javelin .. Two-time javelin medalist at the African Championships, including a silver medal in 2024 ... Bronze medalist in the javelin at the 2021 World University Games in Chengdu, China ... Attended Stellenbosch University in South Africa, earning a bachelor’s in management science.
2024
SONIA VIRK
5-7 / Senior Hurdles/Sprints
Simi Valley, Calif.
Oaks Christian HS
Toed the line in four meets for UCLA during the indoor season, competing in the 400m race and the 60m hurdles … Opened the indoor season with an eighth-place finish (56.96) at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational … Took second at the Rafer Johnson/ Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational to begin the outdoor season … Posted a season-best mark of 58.49 at the UCLA “Legends” Invitational to place first … Was 15th in the Conference at the Pac-12 Championships (59.53) … Finished with a time of 59.81 at the NCAA West First Rounds, good enough for 35th in the region … Appeared in six outdoor meets in her junior season … Selected to the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll for the indoor track & field season.
2023
Competed in four races during the indoor track and field season, running the 60m hurdles, 400m and one 4x400m relay … Recorded a season-best 8.82 in the 60m hurdles at the Dr. Sander Invitational… Anchored the second-place 4x400m relay at the Dr. Sander Invitational (3:39.49) ... Appeared in seven races during the outdoor campaign … UCLA’s top 400m hurdler, she recorded a season-best mark of 59.85 at the Pac-12 Championships to place seventh in her heat.
2022
Competed in the 100m, 100mH, and 400mH … Recorded a season best of 14.33 in the 100mH at the Chris Rinne Twilight meet (April 22).
High School
Lettered four years with Oaks Christian HS Track & Field … Placed third and earned a PR of 14.59 in the 100m hurdles at the 2021 California State Track & Field Championships … Finished in the top three in seven of the eight 100m hurdle races in which she competed in 2021 … Competed in the 4 x 200 and SMR 100-100-200-400m at the 2021 Arcadia Invitational.
MARIE WARNEKE
Freshman
Middle Distance
Georgia (2022-24)
AMIA WITT
Freshman Jumps
Calabasas, Calif.
Calabasas HS
BELLA
WITT
5-9 / Senior Hurdles
Calabasas, Calif.
Calabasas HS
Georgia
Spent three seasons at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga. ... Runner-up in the 60mH at the 2024 New Balance Collegiate Showdown ... Third in the 200m dash at the 2024 Clemson Invite ... Competed at the 2023 SEC Championships in the 60mH ... Placed fourth in the 100mH at the 2022 FSU Relays.
High School
Attended Calabasas High School in Calabasas, Calif. ... Team captain as a junior and senior ... Ranked the No. 1 hurdler in California, and No. 3 nationally ... School record holder.
Personal Born in 2003 ... Parents are Angela and Ray Witt ... Father played basketball at San Diego.
MEN’S
2024 USC 99, UCLA 60
2023 UCLA 88, USC 70
2022 USC 86, UCLA 76
2021 USC 114, UCLA 42
2020* N/A
2019 UCLA 102, USC 60
2018 USC 103, UCLA 53
2017 UCLA 88, USC 75
2016 UCLA 103, USC 60
2015 USC 82, UCLA 81
2014 UCLA 89, USC 74
2013 UCLA 85, USC 78
2012 UCLA 93, USC 70
2011 UCLA 89, USC 74
2010 USC 96, UCLA 67
2009 USC 92, UCLA 71
2008 UCLA 89, USC 74
2007 USC 84, UCLA 79
2006 UCLA 83, USC 80
2005 UCLA 83, USC 80
2004 UCLA 111, USC 52
2003 UCLA 82, USC 81
2002 UCLA 121, USC 81
2001 USC 82, UCLA 81
2000 UCLA 88, USC 75
1999 UCLA 82, USC 81
1998 UCLA 84, USC 74
1997 UCLA 88, USC 75
1996 UCLA 109, USC 52
1995 UCLA 90, USC 71
1994 UCLA 97, USC 61
1993 UCLA 1031/2, USC 571/2
1992 UCLA 123, USC 39
1991 UCLA 114, USC 38
1990 UCLA 94, USC 68
1989 UCLA 93, USC 68
1988 UCLA 97, USC 66
1987 UCLA, 104-59
1986 UCLA, 104-59
1985 UCLA, 89-73
1984 UCLA, 93-68
1983 UCLA, 88-55
1982 nonscoring
1981 UCLA, 107-47
1980 UCLA, 83-71
TEAM SCORES
1979 UCLA, 931/2-601/2
1978 UCLA, 83-71
1977 USC, 91-63
1976 USC, 83-62
1975 UCLA, 75-70
1974 UCLA, 82-63
1973 UCLA, 89-55
1972 UCLA, 76-69
1971 USC, 75-70
1970 UCLA, 100-54
1969 USC, 94-60
1968 USC, 108-36
1967 UCLA, 83-62
1966 UCLA, 86-59
1965 USC, 83-62
1964 USC, 89-56
1963 USC, 99-46
1962 USC, 86-45
1961 USC, 811/3-492/3
1960 USC, 80-51, at ELAC
1959 USC, 861/2-441/2
1958 USC, 78-53, at ELAC
1957 USC, 68-63
1956 USC, 74-54
1955 USC, 79-52
1954 USC, 951/2-351/2
1953 USC, 75-56
1952 USC, 95-26
1951 USC, 921/2-361/2
1950 USC, 120-11
1949 USC, 901/2-401/2
1948 USC, 811/6-49 5/6
1947 USC, 811/2-491/2
1946 USC, 95-36
1945 USC, 82-49 at Berkeley
1944 USC, 89-42
1943 USC, 71-60
1942 USC, 108-23
1941 USC, 1031/3-272/3
1940 USC, 98-38
1939 USC, 115-16
1938 USC, 98-35
1937 USC, 91-40
1936 USC, 741/2-561/2
1935 USC, 104 1/6-25 5/6
1934 USC, 87-44
*The 2020 UCLA-USC dual meet was not contested due to COVID-19.
DUAL MEET MEN’S RECORDS
100m 10.04 Ato Boldon, UCLA,1996; Andre DeGrasse,USC 2015 200m 20.03 Clancy Edwards, USC, 1978 400m 44.43 Quincy Watts, USC, 1992 800m 1:46.47 Rayfield Beaton, USC, 1978 1500m 3:40.39 Jon Rankin, UCLA, 2005 Steeplechase 8:48.59 Peter Herold (2022) 5000m 14:21.27 Creighton Harris, UCLA, 1992 110m Hurdles 13.30 Greg Foster, UCLA, 1980 400m Hurdles 49.48 Felix Sanchez, USC, 2000 4x100m Relay 38.74 USC (D. Burnett, B. Stewart, E. Allen, Jr., J. Blockburger) - 2022 4x400m Relay 3:03.47 McNeal, 47.5; Banks,46.0; Phillips, 45.5; Thompson, 45.6, UCLA, 1980
High Jump 7-5 Jesse Williams, USC, 2005
Pole Vault 18-5.25 Mike Woepse, UCLA, 2014
Long Jump 27-01/2 James McAlister, UCLA, 1973
Triple Jump 56-4 Allen Simms, USC, 2003
Shot Put 71-31/2 John Brenner, UCLA, 1984
Discus 214-3 Julian Wruck, UCLA, 2013
Hammer 255-3 Balazs Kiss, USC, 1995
Javelin (new) 262-6 Corey White, USC 2009
Javelin (old) 251-10 John Fitzsimmons, USC, 1967
2024 USC 85. UCLA 74
WOMEN’S TEAM SCORES
2023 USC 88, UCLA 75
2022 USC 82, UCLA 81
2021 USC 93, UCLA 70
2020* N/A
2019 USC 90, UCLA 69
2018 USC 86, UCLA 77
2017 USC 86, UCLA 77
2016 USC 97, UCLA 66*
2015 USC 93, UCLA 70**
2014 USC 95, UCLA 68*
2013 UCLA 90, USC 73**
2012 USC 89, UCLA 74*
2011 USC 95, UCLA 68**
2010 USC106, UCLA 57*
2009 USC 93, UCLA 70**
2008 USC 86, UCLA 77*
2007 UCLA 98, USC 65**
2006 UCLA 90, USC 73*
2005 UCLA 85, USC 78**
2004 UCLA 93, USC 70*
2003 UCLA 104, USC 59**
2002 UCLA 111, USC 92*
2001 UCLA 85, USC 78**
2000 UCLA 86, USC 68
1999 UCLA 91, USC 63**
1998 UCLA 104, USC 50*
1997 UCLA 82, USC 63**
1996 UCLA 74, USC 70*
1995 UCLA 84, USC 52**
1994 UCLA 94, USC 42*
1993 UCLA 87, USC 47*
1992 USC 80, UCLA 30*
1991 UCLA 95, USC 40*
1990 UCLA 90, USC 40†
1989 UCLA 1011/2, USC 281/2*
1988 UCLA 82 at USC 54†
1987 USC 69 at UCLA 67*
1986 USC 69, UCLA 67†
1985 UCLA 89, USC 43*
1984 UCLA 76, USC 74*
*The 2020 UCLA-USC dual meet was not contested due to COVID-19.
DUAL MEET WOMEN’S RECORDS
100m 11.11 Shakedia Jones, UCLA ’98
200m 22.71 Monique Henderson, UCLA ’04*
400m 50.90 Monique Henderson, UCLA ‘05
800m 2:02.24 Grazyna Penc, USC ‘99
1500m 4:15.01 MIa Barnett (2023)
3000m 9:26.40 Anna Lopaciuch, USC ’99
Steeplechase 10:13.43 Emma Tavella (2022)
5000m 16:52.36 Iryna Vashchuk, USC ‘05
100m Hurdles 12.70 Virginia Powell, USC ‘06
400m Hurdles 55.37 Nicole Leach, UCLA ‘08*
4x100m Relay 42.77 USC ’19
4x400m Relay 3:31.13 USC (B. Lear, J. Jones, C. Okonkwo, J. Ford) - 2022
1997 Michael Granville (800m*); Travis Haynes (Shot Put - 4th); Mebrahtom Keflizighi (5000m - 1st); Scott Slover (Pole Vault - 6th)
1996 Travis Haynes (Shot Put*); Jonathan Ogden (Shot Put - 1st); Mark Parlin (Shot Put2nd); Scott Slover (Pole Vault - 7th)
1995 John Godina (Shot Put - 1st); Jonathan Ogden (Shot Put - 5th); Mark Parlin (Shot Put - 2nd)
1994 Joe Bailey (Shot Put - 6th); Ross Flowers (55mH - 8th); John Godina (Shot Put - 1st); Jonathan Ogden (Shot Put - 5th); Mark Parlin (Shot Put - 8th); Marcus Reed (55m - 3rd); John Sommers (Pole Vault*)
1993 Joe Bailey (Shot Put -6th); Greg Hodel (Weight Throw*)
1992 John Godina (Shot Put - 7th); Tony Miller - 55m*; Charles Rogers (Triple Jump*)
1991 McArthur Anderson (Triple Jump*); Eric Bergreen (Shot Put - 1st)
1990 Brian Blutreich (Shot Put - 4th)
1989 Brian Blutreich (Shot Put - 3rd); John Knight (Weight Throw*); Dave Wilson (Weight Throw - 5th, Shot Put - 6th)
1988 Mark Junkerman (3000m - 3rd)
1986 Jim Banich (Shot Put*); John Frazier (Shot Put - 7th); Dwayne Washington (Triple Jump*)
1978 Charlie Brown (Pole Vault - 3rd); Mike Tully (Pole Vault -1st)
WOMEN’S NCAA INDOOR ALL-AMERICANS
Year Name (Event - Finish)
2024 Ka’Leila Abrille (PV - 13th), Kate Jendrezak (800m - 15th, 4x400 - 10th), Aly Conyers (4x400), Kaylen Fletcher (4x400), Naomi Johnson (4x400)
2023 Gwyn George (DMR - 4th), Kate Jendrezak (DMR), Rose Pittman (DMR), Mia Barnett (DMR), Kate Jendrezak (4x400m - 10th), Aly Conyers (4x400m), Makenzy PierreWebster (4x400m), Naomi Johnson (4x400m)
2022 Maddy Doane (4x400m), Kate Jendrezak (4x400m),Catherine Leger (4x400m), Makenzy Pierre-Webster (4x400m)
1993 Dawn Dumble (Shot Put - 3rd); Jennifer Whelchel (Shot Put - 7th)
1992 Dawn Dumble (Shot Put - 1st); Melissa Weis (Shot Put - 4th)
1991 Tracie Millett (Shot Put - 1st); Melissa Weis (Shot Put - 7th)
1990 Tracie Millett (Shot Put - 1st)
*Top-8 American
*The 2020 NCAA Indoor Championships were not contested due to COVID-19. All student-athletes who qualified for the meet were awarded USTFCCCA All-America accolades.
*The 2020 NCAA Indoor Championships were not contested due to COVID-19. All student-athletes who qualified for the meet were awarded USTFCCCA All-America accolades.
MEN’S INDOOR
3,000 METERS Name Time Date
1. Robert Brandt 7:50.27 2/23/19 2. Peter Herold 7:53.92 2/26/22
Mireles 7:54.82 2/24/23
Ramos 7:55.60 2/2/08 5. Mark Hauser 7:57.89 2/6/99 6. Mark Junkermann 7:58.32 3/11/88 7. Colin Burke 7.59.34 2/1/20
8. Lane Werley 8:00.92 2/27/15 9. Kent Morikawa 8:01.38 2/26/11 10. Dustin Fay 8:01.99 1/27/12
5,000 METERS
Name Time Date 1. Peter Herold 13:37.22 2/24/23 2. Robert Brandt 13:40.82 2/8/19
Name Time Date 1. Kevin Craddock 7.73 2/9/07 2. Darius Reed 7.83 2/24/07 3. Anthony Golston 7.85 1/29/05 4. Misana Viltz 7.94 2/26/16 5. Aiden Lieb 7.98 1/28/23 6. Jonathan Williams 7.99 2/7/04 Liam Anderson 7.99 2/24/23 8. Jadyn Marshall 8.04 2/11/23 9. Steele Wasik 8.06 1/24/15 10. Charles Ryan 8.08 2/22/02 Davis Davis-Lyric 8.08 2/23/24
1. C. Leger, M. Pierre-Webster, M. Doane, S. Anderson 43.39 6/9/22 (NCAA)
2. S. Roseby, S. Johnson, D. Harper, M. Henderson 43.43 5/15/04 (Pac-10)
3. S. Roseby, S. Johnson, D. Harper, M. Henderson 43.49 6/11/04 (NCAA)
4. M. Perry, S. Jones, A. Anderson, J. Hayes 43.49+ 5/2/98 (Pac-10)
5. S. Roseby, S. Johnson, A. McKinnon, S. Jones 43.64 5/20/01(Pac-10)
6. Y. Ndjip-Nyemeck, N. Johnson, A. Conyers, K. Fletcher 43.66 5/12/24 (Pac-12)
7. M. Phillips, S. Parros, C. Smith, G. Devers 43.71 6/1/88 (Eugene)
8. T. Sedwick, C. Smith, M. Phillips, G. Devers 43.74 6/3/88 (Eugene)
9. C. Knighten, M. Phillips, K. Church, G. Devers 43.74 6/5/87 (Baton Rouge)
10. C. Leger, M. Pierre-Webster, M. Doane, S. Anderson 43.77 5/15/22 (Pac-12, Eugene)
4x400 RELAY
Name Time Date
1. M. Rodney, M. Pierre-Webster, K. Jendrezak, S. Anderson 3:25.01 6/12/21 (NCAA)
2. S. Roseby, S. Johnson, A. McKinnon, M. Henderson 3:27.57 6/10/03 (NCAA)
3. M. Rodney, M. Pierre-Webster, K. Jendrezak, S. Anderson 3:27.68 6/10/21 (NCAA)
4. N. Johnson, K. Fletcher, K. Jendrezak, A. Conyers 3:28.48 5/25/24 (NCAA)
5. B. Ogunleye, A. McKinnon, S. Johnson, M. Henderson 3:28.58 5/30/02 (NCAA
6. M. Rodney, M. Pierre-Webster, C. Leger, S. Anderson 3:28.70 5/29/21 (NCAA Prelims)
7. C. Leger, S. Anderson, M. Pierre-Webster, K. Jendrezak 3:28.71 6/11/22 (NCAA)
8. S. Roseby, S. Johnson, A. McKinnon, M. Henderson 3:28.85 6/12/04 (NCAA)
9. Y. Williams, A. Anderson, K. Soley, M. Perry 3:29.41 6/5/99 (NCAA)
10. M. Phillips, G. Devers, C. Knighten, J. Vickers 3:29.82 6/4/88 (Eugene)
4x800 RELAY
Name Time Date
1. B. Hatch, J. Marr, T. Burgess, L. Nilsson 8:28.61 4/28/01(TX Relays)
†Pacific-10 Record
*Collegiate Record
%NCAA Meet Record
‡American Junior Indoor Record
Bold indicates current Bruins
6. Seilala Sua
7. Christina Tolson
Lyvante
Jillian Stafford
10. Stamatia Scarvelis
DRAKE STADIUM
Drake Stadium, one of the finest track and field facilities in the world, has been home to the UCLA track and field team since 1969.
In October 2019, the track at Drake Stadium was named the Betsy and Rafer Johnson Track in honor of legendary Bruin track star and humanitarian, Rafer Johnson, and his wife, Betsy. Rafer passed away in December 2020.
The stadium took on a new look in1999 when it was transformed into a state-of-the-art soccer/track and field facility, adding the Frank W. Marshall Field at Drake Stadium. The stadium provides seating for 11,700 spectators. The cost of the project was $1.5 million and was made possible by a lead gift from Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy. All the money was raised from private funds; no state money was utilized.
The stadium received a state-of-the-art Mondo surface in January 2014, the first phase of a multi-phase renovation plan. The blue Mondo surface placed at Drake Stadium was the latest generation of Mondo and the same surfacing used at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. UCLA also reconfigured its shot put area and expanded the high jump area.
Phase two included an upgrade to the upper main gate to the facility, the placement of a UCLA track and field recognition area, and the installation of a new state-of-the-art video scoreboard. Entry upgrades highlight the stadium’s namesake, Ducky Drake, and integrates the facility architecturally with the UCLA campus aesthetics.
The recognition plaza, which lies outside the main entry to Drake Stadium, recognizes Bruin track and field All-America selections, national champions, Olympic medalists, world champions and world record holders. The recognition area, known as Legacy Lane, highlights the rich Bruin history of men’s and women’s track and field and focuses on the legends of Bruin track and field.
Since its inaugural meet on Feb. 22, 1969, Drake Stadium has been the site of numerous championship meets, including the National AAU in 1976-77-78, the Pacific-8 Championships in 1970 and 1977 and the California CIF High School meet in 1969-7177. In 1988, Drake Stadium hosted the Pacific-10 Track and Field Championships, and in 1994, the facility hosted the first-ever California-Nevada Championships. Drake Stadium again hosted the Pacific-10 Track and Field Championships in 1996 and 2005 and the Pac-12 Championships in 2015. The stadium also has been the home for UCLA women’s track teams since 1975. It was the site of the National Collegiate T&F Championships (the AIAW) in 1977.
In 1973, it was officially named Drake Stadium in honor of a legend at UCLA, Elvin C. “Ducky” Drake, who had been associated with his alma mater as a student-athlete, track coach and athletic trainer for over 60 years. Drake died in Los Angeles of a heart attack on Dec. 23, 1988. He was 85.
DRAKE STADIUM RECORDS - MEN
44.32
Andre De Grasse (USC) 5/17/15 (Pac-12)
Ato Boldon (UCLA) 5/19/96 (Pac-10)
Gabriel Tiacoh (WSU) 5/18/86 (Pepsi)
Rick Wohlhuter (UCTC)
Steve Scott (UCI)
Steve Scott (Sub 4 TC)
28:13.2
110mHH 13.00
400mIH 47.45
5000mW 21:09.4
4x100m 38.17
(AAU)
(Pepsi)
Henry Rono (WSU) 5/07/78 (Pepsi)
Jordan Senko (UCLA 4/11/15 (JJK)
James Munyala (PPC) 6/11/77 (AAU)
Rudy Chapa (Ore TC) 5/11/80 (Pepsi)
Dick Buerkle (NYAC) 6/11/76 (AAU)
Samson Kimobwa (WSU)
Renaldo Nehemiah (Maryland)
Edwin Moses (Morehouse)
Ron Laird (NYAC)
HSI (Jon Drummond, Ato Boldon, Bryan Howard, Maurice Greene)
5/13/77 (Pac-8)
5/06/79 (Pepsi)
6/11/77 (AAU)
6/11/76 (AAU)
4/1/00 (UCLA Quad) 4x400m 3:02.74
TCU (Gerald Alexander, 47.5; Keith Burnett, 45.8; Michael Cannon, 44.7; Tony Allen, 48.8) 4/19/86 (UCLA Tri) High Jump 7-8.50
Pole Vault 18-11
Long Jump 28-7
Javier Sotomayor (Cuba)
Mike Tully (NYAC)
Thierry Vigneron (France)
Carl Lewis (SMTC)
8/6/89 (Jack-in-the-Box)
5/20/84 (SPTA)
5/22/83 (SPTA)
5/13/84 (Pepsi) Triple Jump 56-11.50
Willie Banks (Athletics West)
5/16/82 (Pepsi) Shot Put 75-10.75
Randy Barnes (Mazda TC)
5/16/90 (Jack-in-the-Box) Discus 230-0
Mac Wilkins (Pac Cst Club)
6/11/76 (AAU) Hammer 253-10
Balazs Kiss (USC)
Javelin (new)
Javelin (old) 327-2
5/4/96 (USC-UCLA)
Patrik Boden (Texas) 3/17/90 (UCLA Tri)
Tom Petranoff (Striders) 5/15/83 (Pepsi) Decathlon 8417
Bill Toomey (unat)
2024 - Paris
Antonie Nortje (South Africa) 4x400 Relay
2020 - Tokyo
Shae Anderson (USA) Relay Pool
2016 - Rio de Janeiro
Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) Marathon
Tori Pena (Ireland) Pole Vault
Nicholas Scarvelis (Greece) Shot Put
2012 - London
Amy Acuff (USA) High Jump
Jessica Cosby (USA) Hammer
Dawn Harper (USA) Silver - 100m Hurdles
Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) Marathon
Yoo Kim (South Korea) Pole Vault
Tori Pena (Ireland) Pole Vault
Julian Wruck (Australia) Discus
2008 - Beijing
Amy Acuff (USA) High Jump
Jessica Cosby (USA) Hammer
Dawn Harper (USA) Gold - 100m Hurdles
Monique Henderson (USA)Gold - 4x400m Relay
Sheena Johnson Tosta (USA) Silver - 400m
hurdles
Yoo Kim (South Korea) Pole Vault
Suzy Powell-Roos (USA) Discus
Rhonda Watkins (Trinidad & Tobago)Long Jump
Jonathan Williams (Belize) 400mH
2004 - Athens
Amy Acuff (USA) High Jump
Ato Boldon (Trinidad & Tobago) 100m, 4x100m
Relay
Shelia Burrell (USA) Heptathlon
Malachi Davis (Great Britain) 400m, 4x400m Relay
Gail Devers (USA) 100m, 100m Hurdles
John Godina (USA) Shot Put
Joanna Hayes (USA) Gold (OR) - 100m Hurdles
Monique Henderson (USA)Gold - 4x400m Relay
Sheena Johnson (USA) 400m Hurdles
Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) Silver - Marathon
Yoo Kim (South Korea) Pole Vault
Michelle Perry (USA) Heptathlon
Seilala Sua (USA) Discus
2000 - Sydney
Amy Acuff (USA) High Jump
Andrea Anderson (USA) Gold - 4x400m
Ato Boldon (Trinidad & Tobago) Silver - 100m
Bronze - 200m 4x100m Relay
Shelia Burrell (USA) Heptathlon
Gail Devers (USA) 100m Hurdles
John Godina (USA) Bronze - Shot Put Discus
Monique Henderson (USA) 4x400m Relay Pool
Shakedia Jones (USA) 4x100m Relay Pool
Nada Kawar (Jordan) Shot Put
Mebrahtom Keflezighi (USA) 10,000m
Suzy Powell (USA) Discus
Seilala Sua (USA) Discus
1996 - Atlanta
Amy Acuff (USA)
High Jump
Valeyta Althouse (USA) Shot Put
Ato Boldon (Trinidad & Tobago) Bronze - 100m Bronze - 200m
Gail Devers (USA) Gold - 100m Gold - 4x100m Relay 100m Hurdles
Dawn Dumble (USA) Shot Put
John Godina (USA) Silver - Shot Put Discus
Ibhahim Hassan (Ghana) 400m
Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) Bronze - Long Jump
Decathlon
Nada Kawar (Jordan) Shot Put
Mike Marsh (USA) Silver - 4x100m Relay 100m, 200m
Althea Moses Gilharry (Belize) Triple Jump
Sandra Myers (Spain) 200m, 400m
Mike Powell (USA) Long Jump
Suzy Powell (USA) Discus
Mike Terry (Antigua-Barbuda) 4x400m Relay
Marieke Veltman (USA) Long Jump
1992 - Barcelona
Evelyn Ashford (USA) Gold - 4x100m Relay 100m
Brian Blutreich (USA) Discus
Ato Boldon (Trinidad & Tobago) 100m, 200m
Gail Devers (USA) Gold - 100m
100mH
Danny Everett (USA) 400m
Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) Gold - Heptathlon
Bronze - Long Jump
Francie Larrieu-Smith (USA) Marathon
Steve Lewis (USA) Gold - 4x400m Relay
Silver - 400m
Mike Marsh (USA) Gold - 200m Gold - 4x100m Relay
Camille Noel (Canada) 4x400m Relay
Mike Powell (USA) Silver - Long Jump
Karin Smith (USA) Javelin
Janeene Vickers (USA) Bronze - 400mH
Michael Williams (St. Vincent) 4x400m Relay
Kevin Young (USA) Gold - 400mH
1988 - Seoul
Evelyn Ashford (USA) Gold - 4x100m Relay Silver - 100m
Former world record-holder in the decathlon Rafer Johnson won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy. At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Johnson, competing with an injury, won the silver medal in the decathlon. For the remainder of his career, he would not lose another multi-event competition.
In 1974, he was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame and, in 1984, was a charter inductee into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. As a Bruin, he won conference championships in the 220y low hurdles in 1956 and in the javelin in 1958. Johnson lit the Olympic torch at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. His daughter Jenny was an All-American volleyball player for the Bruins. As a Bruin senior, his son Josh placed second (248-7) in the javelin at the 1998 USA Outdoor. Johnson currently serves as the Chairman for the Board of Directors of the Southern California Special Olympics. In 2006, Johnson was inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the inaugural class.
In 2019. the track at legendary Drake Stadium was renamed The Betsy and Rafer Johnson Track at Drake Stadium in honor of Johnson and his wife. UCLA has mourned the loss of Rafer after his passing in December 2020.
Jim Bush (1987)
During his tenure as UCLA’s men’s head coach from 1965-1984, Bush led the Bruins to an impressive 20-year dual meet record of 151-21-0 (.879), seven national dual meet titles, seven Pac-10 crowns and five NCAA championship team titles. In 1966, his Bruins recorded UCLA’s first ever dual meet victory over USC, winning 86-59 at the Coliseum. From 1968-88, 23 of his athletes competed in the Olympics, winning four gold, five silver and three bronze medals.
In 1987, Bush was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame. In December 1996, he was inducted into the U.S. Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame. And, the following year (1997), he was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame.
To this day, UCLA Track & Field hosts the annual Jim Bush Legends Invitational in his memory.
Kate Schmidt (1994)
Kate Schmidt was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1994 and was UCLA’s first female inductee. Schmidt won the NCAA javelin title in 1975 (198-1).
Nicknamed “Kate the Great” with good reason, she completely dominated the American women’s javelin throwing scene for a decade. She broke the American javelin record 10 times, culminating with a throw of 227’ 5” that has held up as the record for more than a quarter century. At the time, that throw was a world record and established her place on the international scene. Schmidt was third at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games and was also a member of the 1980 Olympic team that didn’t compete. She just missed making the 1984 team when she placed fourth at the U.S. Trials. She won seven national titles and placed in the top three in 12 of 13 national championships from 1972 to 1984.
Florence Griffith-Joyner (1995)
Florence Griffith-Joyner won the NCAA 200m championship in 1982 and the 400m title in 1983. She was a silver medalist in the 200m at the 1984 Olympics and also medaled at the 1987 World Outdoor Championships, taking second in the 200m and running on the winning 4x100m relay team. At Seoul in 1988, she won three gold medals (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay) and one silver (4x400m relay), setting a world record in the 200m. It was Flo-Jo’s golden moment and it will be tough to repeat. She still holds the women’s world record of 10.49 for 100 meters and 21.34 for 200 meters and no one has come close to threatening them. Her 10.49 at the 1988 Olympic Trials in Indianapolis was one of the most eye-popping performances in track and field history.
She won the Sullivan Trophy in 1988. Flo-Jo married Al Joyner, 1984 Olympic triple jump champion, in 1987. She died on September 21, 1998 at the age of 38.
Evelyn Ashford (1997)
In 1997, Evelyn Ashford was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990. Ashford ranked No. 1 in the world four times in the 100m and was the top-ranked American seven times, including four in a row from 1981-84.
A competitor at the 1976 Olympic Games while attending UCLA, she also competed in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Games, winning four gold medals and a silver. She was a two-time World record holder in the 100m.
While at UCLA, Ashford won four national collegiate titles in the sprints and relays and led the Bruins to the 1977 national championship.
In 2003, she was named to the Board of Directors for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and in November of 2005 was named to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2006.
Greg Foster (1998)
Greg Foster was one of the world’s greatest hurdlers from 1981-91. He was a national collegiate champion while at UCLA in both the high hurdles (1978, ’80) and 200m (1979), and still leads the All-time Bruin chart in the high hurdles (13.22). After college, Foster won 10 national titles, both indoor and outdoor, and he won the first three world outdoor championships (1983-87-91). Foster’s best Olympic Games showing was a silver in 1984. He was world-ranked for 15 of 16 years from 1977-92, achieving top-five rankings five times. He was world-ranked in the 200m in 1979 and set world indoor hurdles records in 1986 and ’87. He was a member of 12 international teams, and was the 1991 world indoor champion and the 1981 World Cup winner.
Francie Larrieu Smith (1998)
Francie Larrieu Smith’s running career spanned four decades and 35 U.S. distance records from 1000m to two miles. In 1998 she was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. Larrieu Smith was on 28 national teams and won 21 national titles. She was a member of five Olympic teams, starting in 1972 when she ran the 1500m. Larrieu Smith also ran the 1500m at the 1976 Games and was a team member at that distance in 1980. She missed out on the 1984 team but ran the 10,000m at the 1988 Games, taking fifth. Larrieu Smith moved up to the marathon for the 1992 Games. At the ’92 Games, she carried the U.S. flag at the Opening Ceremonies. She was nationally ranked in every event from 800m to the marathon. Larrieu Smith also ran in the 1987 and ’91 World Track and Field Championships in the 10,000m. While at UCLA, Larrieu Smith won the 1974 AIAW Outdoor titles in the 880, mile and two-mile and still leads the UCLA chart in the 3000m (9:03.2).
Dwight Stones (1998)
Dwight Stones, a former world record-holder in the high jump, was one of the world’s top jumpers from 1973-84. He represented the U.S. in three Olympic Games, winning the bronze in both 1972 and ’76 and placing fourth in 1984. An 11-time national champion, Stones, who attended UCLA and Long Beach State, set his first world-record in Munich, Germany in 1973 by clearing 7-6.50. That jump also made him the first “flop” jumper to set a world high jump record. He raised the world record to 7-7 in 1976 and added another quarter inch to the record two months later. He won the Olympic Trials in 1972 and ’84. While at UCLA, Stones placed third at the 1972 NCAA Outdoor Championships. He is now one of television’s top track and field analysts.
In 2003, Stones was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Los Angeles Track & Field Organizing Committee.
USA TRACK & FIELD
Willie Banks (1999)
In his first competition since retiring in 1992, Willie Banks set a world triple jump record in the 45-49 age group in June 2001 (47-8.75). In 1999, the former world record-holder in the triple jump was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. One of the greatest triple jumpers ever produced by the U.S., Banks had his best moment on June 16, 1985 when he set a world record of 58-11.50 at the USA Outdoor Championships in Indianapolis, IN. At UCLA, he was twice runner-up in the NCAA Championships (1977-78) and won two Pac-10 titles (1977-78). After college, he set his first American record in 1981 and increasing that record six more times. Banks represented the U.S. in 18 international competitions and was a member of the 1980, ’84 and 1988 Olympic teams. He was also on the 1983 and ’87 U.S. World Championship teams. In 1985, Banks was the Track & Field News’ and U.S. Olympic Committee Athlete of the Year. Banks still holds the UCLA record in the long jump with a mark of 17.05m (55-11.25), set back in 1978.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee (2004)
Jackie Joyner-Kersee was honored in 2001 by the Honda Award as the Top Women’s Collegiate Athlete of the Last 25 years and by Sports Illustrated for Women as the World’s Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century. She was also named the Summer Olympian of the Century by the Associated Press in 1999. The world record-holder in the heptathlon, JJK’s six Olympic medals, including three gold, was the highest total ever won by a U.S. woman. JJK was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996. In 1987 and ‘86, she was given the Jesse Owens Award. In 2003, the UCLA track and field programs named their annual invitational the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational. JJK was inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame in December of 2004. She also had the ninth and 25th top moment of the past 25 years in track and field. Her world record breaking heptathlon total of 7,215 points was the ninth-best moment, while becoming the first woman to break the 7,000 point barrier was ranked 25th.
Mike Powell (2005)
In 2005, Mike Powell became the 11th Bruin member inducted into the USATF Hall of Fame.
In what many consider the greatest head-to-head competition in track and field history, Mike Powell won the 1991 World Outdoor Championships men’s long jump gold medal over fellow Hall of Famer Carl Lewis by setting the world record of 8.95 meters/29 feet, 4.50 inches, in Tokyo, Japan. The mark broke the previous standard set by Bob Beamon in 1968. Powell, who also won the World Outdoor Championships gold medal in 1993, was a two-time Olympic silver medalist and six-time USA Outdoor champion. Ranked #1 in the world on four occasions, he won 34 consecutive competitions in 1993 and 1994. He was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame in the Class of 2020.
Kevin Young (2006)
Kevin Young was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in December of 2006. Young had an incredible career highlighted by a gold medal finish in the 400m hurdles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics where he set a then-world record at 46.78. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Young finished fourth in the hurdles.
While at UCLA, Young won the 1987 and 1988 NCAA 400m hurdles titles, was the NCAA runner-up in the intermediate hurdles in 1986 and was a member of two 4x400m relay NCAA Championship teams (1887/1988). He was a three-time Pac10 Champion in the 400m hurdles. His school-record time of 47.72, set in 1988, still stands today.
Young won the USA Track & Field Senior National 400m hurdles title in 1992 and 1993 and was the No. 1 ranked American intermediate hurdler in 1989, 1992 and 1993. For eight straight seasons (1986-1993), Young was ranked in the U.S. top-10 list, as well as in 1996 and 1998. He was the No. 1 world-ranked hurdler in 1989, 1992 and 1993, and was ranked in the top-10 in the world on eight total occasions.
Elvin C. “Ducky” Drake (2007)
Elvin “C” Ducky Drake was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in December of 2007, becoming the 13th Bruin to join the Hall of Fame after a storied career at UCLA.
In 19 seasons under Drake, UCLA had a dual meet record of 107-48-0 (.690) and won one NCAA Championship and one conference title. Drake was a charter member into the UCLA Hall of Fame in 1984 and was inducted inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame.
In 1973, the Bruin track and field complex was officially named “Drake Stadium” in honor of the UCLA coaching legend who had been associated with UCLA as a student-athlete, c oach and athletic trainer for over 60 years.
Some of Drake’s star athletes include Rafer Johnson, C.K. Yang, George Stanich, Craig Dixon and George Brown.
Gail Devers (2011)
Gail Devers (1985-1988) was a four-time Olympian, winning two gold medals in the 100m (1996 Atlanta, 1992 Barcelona). She won four World Outdoor titles (1999-100mH, 1995-100mH, 1993-100mH/100m) and two World Indoor titles (1997, ‘9360m) during her professional career.
Devers ranked No. 1 in the world in the 100m hurdles on seven different occasions (top-10 ranking 10 different years) and ranked No. 1 in the world in the 100m in 1993. In all, Devers was ranked in the top-10 in the world in the 100m seven different times. Nationally, Devers was the top 100m hurdler 10 different times (top-10 13 times). In the 100m, she ranked in the top-10 14 times (twice ranked No. 1).
While at UCLA, Devers won nine Pac-10 titles and two NCAA crowns. In all, she earned 13 All-American accolades. Today, her top times of 10.97 (100m) and 12.61 (100mH) still stand as school records. She ranks third all-time in UCLA history in the 200m (22.71) and long jump (22-02.50).
In 2005, Devers took time away from the track to have her first child. She raced in a few indoor meets in 2007 before taking another break to have her second child. She was inducted in December of 2011.
John Godina (2013)
John Godina finds his name near the top of a long list of dominant American men in the shot put. A total of four times in his career he finished the year ranked No. 1 in the World in the event and finished no worse than second in the World from 1995 until 1998.
His career is highlighted with a Silver Medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, a Bronze Medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and winning a trio of World Outdoor Championships Gold Medals (’95, ’97, ’01).
A standout for Bob Larsen and throws coach Art Venegas at UCLA, Godina won five NCAA individual titles in his Bruin career, including the indoor shot put and outdoor discus titles in 1994, indoor and outdoor shot put and outdoor discus championships in 1995 and setting the collegiate outdoor shot put record (722.5). He was a 10-time All-American in the shot put and discus and six-time Pac-10 champion. Godina is a 2005 inductee into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.
He also won the 1998 World Cup title in the shot put and earned World Indoor Championships Gold in 2001 and Silver Medals in 1999 and 2003. Retiring in 2008, Godina was elected to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame the first year he was eligible.
