FULLERTON, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's track & field team battled through a rare rainy Southern California day to post two event victories and a couple personal records Saturday at the Ben Brown Invitational at Titan Track Complex.

"Today was our first competition of the year so we knew as coaches that it would be an opportunity to dust off the rust," head coach Jeff Perkins said. "I was happy with the way our athletes competed despite the conditions."
 
Freshman Seth Enochs made a statement in his first collegiate competition by claiming the long jump title with a leap of 23-02.5. He recorded the winning mark on his first attempt of the meet. Enochs was nine inches off his personal record (23-11.5), which he established at Yucca Valley High School.
 
The Anteaters' 4x400 relay team comprised of Brandon Lucas, Paul Resong, CJ Hicks and Andres Woodruff also led all NCAA Division I teams, and was the overall runner-up, at 3:17.30.
 
Junior Asa Allen, whose primary event is the 110H, competed in the 100m dash this afternoon and placed third in the Division I standings (15th overall) with a time of 11.06 seconds. Senior Michael Hamill also scored in the DI race where he took sixth (11.21).
 
Junior Brandon Lucas led a quartet of 'Eaters in the 400m where he clocked in at 50.09 to come in fourth (11th overall). Sophomore Stefon Goudeau was also seventh (18th) with a time of 51.07 seconds.
 
Freshman Kyle Sandoval ran a 57.66 to finish third among DI athletes in the 400m hurdles.
 
Senior Izzak Mireles was UCI's top performer in the mile, crossing the finish line in 4:25.57 to take third (5th overall). Junior Jhamani Long was also sixth (13th) at 4:35.45, while freshman Kit Carter wasn't far behind in seventh (14th) at 4:36.67.
 
Sophomore Hector Garcia and senior Ashton Garcia both put up career bests in the 5000m. Hector was fourth among DI runners at 15:07.84, while Ashton shattered his previous best by over five seconds at 15:08.59 to come in fifth. Junior Jon Rodriguez added an individual victory in the 5000m 'B' section (15:37.94).
 
Sophomore Sam Ayala and junior Andrew Graciano both placed among the top-10 NCAA Division I runners in the 800m. Ayala was fourth with a time of 1:57.04, while Graciano came in 10th (2:01.32).
 
Junior Paul Resong was sixth (19th overall) in his first collegiate 200m (22.93). Resong has competed primarily in the 400m in his UC Irvine career.
 
In the field events, junior Omar Valenzuela was sixth overall, and fourth among DI competitors in the discus with a toss of 154-01. Senior Jon Dickinson was also seventh in the shot put (43-02.25). Dickinson added a PR in the hammer throw on Friday.
 
The Anteaters return to action next weekend with their home-opening meet, as they are set to host the UCI Spring Collegiate Classic, March 16-17.