UC Irvine
Big West Championships
'Eaters Perform Well on First Day of Big West Championships
May 12, 2017 | Women's Track & Field
Saturday's Meet Program | Live Results
FULLERTON, Calif. – The UC Irvine women's track & field team got off to a strong start at the Big West Championships Friday at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Track Complex.
The Anteaters scored in two throwing events, while they also had eight individuals qualify for tomorrow's track finals.
Sophomore Elizabeth Akindele picked up three points in the shot put as she finished sixth overall. After fouling on her first two throws in Flight 2, Akindele ended up moving on to the final with a toss of 44-08.5 on her third attempt. She then jumped two spots after the sixth round where she recorded her best mark of the day at 46-03.50.
Senior Melanie Speech advanced to the final as well, but was unable to score with a ninth-place showing. Speech hit a lifetime-best 44-10.75 on her first attempt and that stood as her best throw of the afternoon.
Sophomore Barbara Coward came in seventh in the hammer to add two points for the 'Eaters. She closed out the competition with a heave of 176-01, which was just five inches short of her lifetime best. Coward will be back in action tomorrow in her main event, the discus, at 2:45 p.m.
On the track, junior Tyra Jones and senior Megan George both won their respective heats to earn an automatic bid into Saturday's 100m hurdle final. Jones actually posted the top qualifying time at 13.38 seconds, which was a personal best and the second-fastest in program history behind only George. George, who holds the school record at 13.28, cruised to a win in Heat 2 (13.47). Freshmen Imani Jones (14.63) and Iyana Cooksey (14.76) each chipped in a wind-legal lifetime best.
UCI was also solid in the 400m hurdles where senior Crystal Lizaola (61.48) and Tyra Jones (62.56) were third and sixth, respectively. They will both compete in tomorrow's final.
Junior Persis William-Mensah was the top finisher in the 100m prelims at 11.61 seconds. Sophomore Hope Bushnell was also a time qualifier in both the 100m (11.82) and 200m (24.38).
Sophomore Hallie Pullum surprised the 800m field with a fifth-place performance. She shaved three seconds off her season best to finish with a personal-record 2:12.20, which was more than enough to put her through to the final.
Junior Simone Buchanan just missed out on qualifying for the 400m final as she took ninth (56.48). Senior Saniya Syed was also 11th with a career-best 57.55.
Senior Courtney Sharar wrapped up the first day of the Big West Championships with a personal-record 38:02.14 in the 10000m (13th).
UC Irvine returns to Fullerton tomorrow for the final day of the conference meet.
Players Mentioned
