LONG BEACH, Calif. (May 15) – UC Santa Barbara opened day one of the Big West Championships with several scoring performances and a strong group of qualifiers advancing to Saturday's finals.
Matt Staples broke the school record in the men's 200m, Pyrce Edwards led the men's 110m hurdles prelims with a personal best, and Finn Andrews posted the top qualifying time in the men's 400m hurdles, while both Mattheo Lacasia and Mac Lamkin advanced with the third fastest times in their respective events.
FIELD
The Gauchos picked up points early in the field, highlighted by Kayla Yap's fifth place finish in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 54.78m. Ally Tito added another scoring performance in the women's high jump, clearing 1.70m to place fourth, while Emmanuel Fitzgerald finished seventh in the men's hammer at 57.92m.
TRACK
On the track, Parker Simmons scored for the men in the 3000m steeplechase, placing fifth in 9:00.40, while Ryann Strawn added points on the women's side with a seventh place finish in 10:48.60. Zach Parker closed out the night with a fourth place finish in the men's 10,000m, clocking 31:11.79 to add another scoring effort for the Gauchos.
UC Santa Barbara also advanced several athletes into Saturday's finals. Pyrce Edwards led the men's 110m hurdles prelims with a personal best 14.06, while Miles Paris also qualified in 14.30. Maddie Conte and Jess Mackenzie moved on in the women's 100m hurdles, and Conte, Alison Tjoe and Anna Josephson all qualified in the women's 400m hurdles.
Matt Staples had an impressive performance for the sprints, qualifying in both the 100m and 200m. Staples ran 10.35 in the 100m before breaking the school record in the 200m with a time of 20.66. Finn Andrews led the men's 400m hurdles prelims in 50.97, with Mac Lamkin also advancing after running 51.89.
In the middle distance events, Sierra Gill qualified for the women's 1500m final, while Kenna Bradley and Svea Wickelgren both advanced in the women's 800m. Mattheo Lacasia also secured a spot in the men's 400m final after running 47.06.
NEXT UP
The Gauchos will return to Jack Rose Track for the final day of the Big West Championships.
