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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

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"