The majority of the UCSB track and field team competed on Friday at the Bryan Clay Invite in Azsua with two victories, one on the women’s and one on the men’s side. On Friday, two Gaucho middle distance runners competed at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut.
At the Bryan Clay Invite, junior Mitchell Haag had a winning performance in the high jump event on Friday, earning first place with his clearance of 6-10.75. Not only did Irene Kujore win the women’s shot put event at 49-2.5 but she placed second in the discus at 154-7.5 as well as placing in the top ten in the women’s hammer throw at 173-3.
On Friday, The remainder of the field and track events took place with several of the Gauchos placing in the top ten. Irene Kujore had a tremendous performance, winning the shot put event with her mark of 49-2.5 followed by a second place finish in the discus at 154-7.5 for a new personal best.
COMPLETE RESULTS
Christine Cooperstein also had a great performance in the 5,000 meter run, placing third overall and clocking in 17:01.69 and seventeen seconds faster than her previous PR.
Courtney Lightfoot ran 2:13.56 in the 800m run while Dani Moreno led the women’s 1,500m for the Gauchos with a time of 4:41.08. The women’s 4x400m relay squad placed second overall with Barbara Nwaba, Jenn Carey, Amanda Rodriguez and Lauren Kodama contributing to a time of 3:50.06. Helena Montin tied for 18th in the high jump at a height of 5-3. Freshman Cassandra Centofranchi vaulted a new personal best mark of 11-0 in the pole vault and good for 21st place.
Tayler Williams jumped 18-4.5 in the long jump to tie for fifth place overall while placing third in the triple jump at 39-10. Alex Francis threw 146-8.75 in the hammer throw. Cherise Dixon ran 15.60 for sixth place in her heat of the 100m hurdles and clocking in 1:07.23 in the 400m hurdles.Grace Esslinger threw 127-2 in the javelin, placing 13th overall. Esslinger also competed in the 100m where she ran 12.30. Amanda Rodriguez crossed the finish line in 25.31 in the 200m dash and Camille Petty ran 57.50 in the 400m dash.
There were also several great performances on the men’s side with Alex Umstead finsihing third out of a field of talented competitors in the hammer throwing, 188-5 on Thursday’s portion of the hammer throw event. Jordan Scott ran 48.17 in the 400m dash and placing third overall. Michael Guerra placed top ten in the javelin with his throw of 192-11. Andrew Curry tied for seventh in the pole vault at 15-7. Kyle Strawn threw a sixth place mark of 53-4 in the shot put and Adam Shigem threw 152-2 in the discus placing in the top ten.
Other men’s performances include Tyler Brady’s 800m with a time of 1:53.05 followed by John Walsh’s mark of 22-3.25 in the long jump and Oscar Pearson;s jumped a wind-aided mark of 44-7.5. Jacob Vowels ran a wind aided time of 10.92 in the 100m and 22.13 in the 200m and Andrew Farkas clocked in 4:00.49 in the 1,500m run.
At the Mt. SAC Relays, Shyan Vaziri and Rusty Parker competed in the men’s 800m. Vaziri crossed the line in 1:50.49 and placing 21st out of a field of 84 runners while Rusty Parker crossed the line in 1:51.84.
Competition concludes on Saturday with Ryan Martin as the sole Gaucho representer.
