SEATTLE, Wash. – The UC Santa Barbara women's track and field team opened their indoor season in strong fashion this weekend, traveling to the Pacific Northwest for the UW Invitational hosted by the University of Washington. The two day meet featured success across a wide range of track and field events, signaling a promising start to the Gauchos' 2026 season.
FRIDAY
The track events opened with the preliminary round of the 60m hurdles, featuring four Gauchos. Hanna Barmettler and Ally Tito each posted personal bests, finishing in 9.16 and 9.32 respectively, while Alison Tjoe crossed the line in 9.27. Jess Mackenzie finished first in her heat, clinching a personal record of 8.86 to secure a qualifying spot in the finals. In the final, Mackenzie continued to move up the rankings, improving her time to 8.81 to finish sixth overall and earn another personal best.
In the 60m dash preliminary round, senior Amor Jones – UCSB's program record holder for the event – crossed the line at 7.96.
Freshman Isabel Ross delivered an impressive collegiate track debut in the 800m, posting a time of 2:13.10. Her performance currently ranks second all-time in the program's indoor record book for the event.
In the 400m, Mia Shepard continues to be a force on the track, finishing first overall in a field of 33 with a time of 53.24. Sophomores Briana Bartone and Anna Josephson each recorded indoor personal bests, finishing at 57.06 and 57.80, while Alsion Tjoe followed close behind with a time of 57.81.
The day's track events concluded with the 4x400m relay, where sophomore squad Briana Bartone, Natalia McGowan, Anna Josephson, and Mia Shepard teamed up to finish in a time of 3:47.52
In the field events, Ally Tito placed sixth overall in high jump, clearing a height of 1.65 meters. Hanna Barmettler also competed in the event, finishing with a mark of 1.55 meters.
Freshman Carolina Combe impressed in her collegiate debut in the long jump, placing fourth overall with a mark of 5.57 meters. Natalie Lyons recorded a jump of 5.40 meters, while Jess Mackenzie posted a mark of 5.24 meters. Ally Tito capped off her third event of the day with a mark of 5.34 meters.
SATURDAY
Saturday's track events highlighted the distance squad, as a quartet of Gauchos posted strong performances in the one-mile run. Freshman Jordin Lieberman led the group, clocking a blazing 4:53.08 to set a new program record in her first indoor collegiate race. Isabel Ross followed with a personal-best time of 4:58.77, while freshman Addie Oversmith finished in 5:01.08. Danielle Hollander rounded out the group, crossing the line in 5:07.66.
Senior Kennedy Johnson closed out the meet with a first-place finish in the triple jump invitational section, edging out some Big West competitors with a mark of 12.44 meters.
NEXT UP
The Gauchos will have two weeks of preparation before they travel to the East Coast for the Crimson Invite hosted by Harvard on Feb. 14, and the Boston University Valentine hosted by Boston University on Feb. 14.
