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University of California, Santa Barbara

2026 Women's Track and Field Roster

Kayla Yap

  • Height 5-4
  • Year Junior
  • Hometown Huntington Beach, Calif.
  • High School Mater Dei HS
  • Position Throws

Biography

2026 INDOOR TRACK & FIELD: Opened up her season with a third place finish in the weight throw at the Crimson Open (Feb. 13) with a mark of  15.70m...Earned a personal best of 16.56m in the weight throw at the BU Valentine Invitational (Feb. 14) to take her spot at fifth all time in program history for the event.

2025 TRACK & FIELD: Recorded a personal best of 45.76m in the discus at Challenge Cup (March 14) … Took gold in the hammer throw (49.45m) and third in the discus (40.53m) at UCSB Open (April 12) … Notched a personal record of 52.08m in the hammer throw at Big West Championships (May 16).

2024 TRACK & FIELD: Earned Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll distinction ... Competed in eight meets for the Gauchos ... Recorded a personal best shot put distance at the Sunshine Indoor Open (Feb. 9-10) with a distance of 8.93 meters ... Earned a personal best hammer throw distance at the UCSB Invite (March 8) with a distance of 43.99 meters and placed fifth ... Placed second in the discus at the Navy vs Westmont Dual Meet (March 9) with a throw distance of 31.22 meters ... Earned a personal best in the discuss at the Mark Conover Classic (March 22-23) with a length of 38.54 meters.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Mater Dei High School of the Trinity League … Threw for Rick Martinez earning one varsity letter … Did track for four years … Placed sixth in CIF Division 2 Finals … Began as long jumper with personal best of 13.9 feet … Sophomore year learned throws and ended with 95.1 feet in discus and 24.5 feet in shot put … Earned varsity letter junior year with personal bests of 111.6 feet in discus and 30.9 feet in shot put … Was team captain senior year with personal bests of 128.9 feet in discus and 32.6 feet in shot put … Went to and placed 6th … Placed second at Trinity League finals in discus (128.9 feet) … Made CIF Division 2 Finals 2023 … Also did Taekwondo … Four-time Principals Honor Roll.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Abram and Kimberly … Has older brother Aidan … Majoring in pre-Political Science at UC Santa Barbara … Would like to be a lawyer … Favorite sports teams are the Lakers, Dodgers, and Rams … Favorite sports memory is her first travel meet with the team in Fresno … Greatest athletic achievement is tied between winning 6th overall in division 2 and taking first at the West Coast Relay silver division … Favorite movies are Oceans 11, Now You See Me, and The Hangover … Favorite TV shows are Friends, Crash Landing on You, and Criminal Minds … Favorite book is Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, These violent Delights/These Violent Ends  by Chloe Gong, and The Great Gatsby  by F.Scott Fitzgerald … Favorite musical artists are Morgan Wallen, Knock 2, Chase Atlantic, and the Arctic Monkeys … Enjoys taekwondo, weightlifting, and drawing.

Historical Player Information

  • 2024Freshman

    Throws
    5'4"
  • 2025Sophomore

    Throws
    5'4"
  • 2026Junior

    Throws
    5'4"