Live Results

FULLERTON, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's track & field team fought through a rare rainy Southern California day to put up some impressive performances in the season-opening Ben Brown Invitational Saturday 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."
 
Junior Brandy Coward led the 'Eaters with an individual title in the 200m. Coward finished ahead of the pack in 25 seconds flat. She was followed by senior Simone Buchanan, who was fourth among NCAA Division I athletes (5th overall) at 25.33. Junior Julia Sambvani was sixth at 25.66.
 
Buchanan, Mikayla Scott, Coward and Sambvani also combined to win the 4x400 in 3:53.12.
 
Freshman Natalie Koppel had a promising collegiate debut, finishing third in the long jump at 17-00.75. She went on to place third among DI competitors (11th overall) in the 100m as she recorded a 12.94 while running into a slight headwind. Freshman Hanna Coloma was also seventh (20th overall) in the 100m at 13.66 seconds.
 
Sophomore Keely Boyd notched a personal-record 5:17.17 for a fourth-place showing in the mile. She crushed her previous best by over six seconds. Juniors Hallie Pullum (5:21.60) and Megan Mirkhanian (5:22.32) chipped in a pair of top-10 performances.
 
In the 5000m, sophomore Anastasia Karnaze took third (17:47.00), and classmate Brenda Dorantes was sixth (18:14.08).
 
Senior Sophia Zhou was the DI runner-up in the 400m, clocking in at 60.55. Freshman Shayla Oliver added a top-10 overall showing in the 100m hurdles, crossing the finish line in 15.86 seconds.
 
Junior Adrienne Lee cleared 11-03.75 in the pole vault to match her lifetime best and finish in a tie for third. Sophomore Tatyana Hamlett also posted a personal-record 35-06.75 to place fourth overall in the triple jump.
 
Junior Elizabeth Akindele led the throws squad with runner-up honors in the shot put. She had a heave of 43-09.75 on the third of four attempts.
 
Just one day after taking third in the hammer, junior Barbara Coward contributed a third-place finish in the discus. She registered her best mark of the day on her third attempt at 129-07.
 
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.