Friday, May 11
Northridge, CA
9:00 AM PT
UC Irvine
at
Big West Championships
UC Irvine Gears up For Big West Championships
May 09, 2018 | Women's Track & Field
Big West Track & Field Championships
Dates: Friday-Saturday, May 11-12
Time: 9 a.m. (PDT)
Location: Matador Track & Field Complex - Northridge, Calif.
TV Coverage: FOX Prime Ticket (Saturday starting at 2 p.m.)
Live Results: finishedresults.com
UC Irvine Meet Notes
The UC Irvine women's track & field team makes its way to Northridge this weekend for the Big West Championships, May 11-12. The conference meet will be held at Matador Track & Field Complex.
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The Big West Championships get underway Friday morning with the men's hammer throw at 9 a.m. The running events are then set for an afternoon start with the women's steeplechase at 2 p.m. On Saturday, the women's hammer kicks things off at 9 a.m., while the track events, which will be televised live on FOX Prime Ticket, commence with the women's 4x100 relay at 2:08 p.m. The Anteaters have 20 individuals entered in 17 events.
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UCI AT THE BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS
β’ Since 1984, UCI student-athletes have produced 67 individual Big West titles and three championship relay teams.
β’ Last year, the Anteaters finished seventh at the conference meet and had six All-Big West performers (top-three).
β’ Persis William-Mensah was the runner-up in the 100m and 4x100.
β’ Tyra Jones and Hope Bushnell were also part of that 4x100 relay squad.
β’ Barbara Coward added a runner-up showing in the discus.
β’ UC Irvine is still in search of its first Big West Women's Track & Field team title.
β’ The 'Eaters have placed second at the conference meet six times with the last coming in 1996.
Β
QUICK HITS
β’ Persis William-Mensah holds three outdoor (100m, 200m, 4x100) and two indoor (60m, 200m) school records.
β’ She bettered her own 100m standard at the Big West Challenge with a wind-legal career-best 11.51.
β’ William-Mensah also broke the 200m record twice in as many weeks, most recently running a PR 23.88 on March 24.
β’ Barbara Coward was named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week on April 10.
β’ She was recognized after winning the hammer and discus with league-leading marks at the Big West Challenge.
β’ Coward has broken the school record in the hammer throw four times this year and her current best stands at 192-03.
β’ Hope Bushnell ranks among the Anteaters' all-time top-10 in the 100m (T3rd, 11.76) and 200m (2nd, 24.03).
β’ UC Irvine's 38-woman roster features 13 newcomers, including 11 freshmen.
Β
LAST TIME OUT: STEVE SCOTT INVITATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
β’ Barbara Coward got the weekend started by breaking her own school record in the hammer throw at 192-03.
β’ Coward, who became the first 'Eater to surpass 190 feet, was the top collegiate finisher, and second overall.
β’ Alison Meegan added a top-10 showing in the hammer where she placed sixth with a mark of 177-05.
β’ Natalie Koppel took seventh out of 43 in the long jump with a lifetime-best 19-05.5. Koppel catapulted herself to No. 3 among UC Irvine's all-time leaders.
β’ Adrienne Lee tied for ninth in the pole vault (11-05.75) for her seventh top-10 finish of the season.
β’ Anastasia Karnaze was fifth in the steeplechase, clocking in with her second-best time of the year at 11:03.78.
β’ Persis William-Mensah was first among collegiate athletes, and second overall, in the 100m (11.54).
β’ Hope Bushnell also came in seventh (11.79), while Mikayla Scott took eighth with a season-best 11.88.
β’ William-Mensah (3rd) and Bushnell (4th) contributed top-five finishes in the 200m.
β’ Simone Buchanan placed fifth in the 400m with a career-best 55.37, which ranks fourth in program history.
β’ Tyra Jones posted her fourth sub-14 second time over her last five 100H races at 13.82 to come in fifth overall.
β’ Julia Sambvani claimed bronze in the 400m hurdles at 61.21.
β’ Bushnell, William-Mensah, Sambvani and Scott combined for a runner-up showing in the 4x100 relay (45.26).
β’ Elizabeth Akindele established a career-best 46-10.25 to finish fifth in the shot put.
Β
BIG WEST LEADER
Junior Barbara Coward enters the Big West Championships as the No. 1 seed in both the hammer and discus. Two weeks ago at the Steve Scott Invitational, she broke her own school record in the hammer throw three times. Coward improved on her previous best with a toss of 188-07 on her last attempt of Flight 3. She then hit 191-08 on her second throw of the finals before unleashing a huge personal-record of 192-03 to wrap up the competition. Coward is the first Anteater in program history, and only individual in the Big West this year, to surpass 190 feet. The Atwater, Calif., native also leads the conference in the discus by over 10 feet with a season-best 173-07, which was the winning mark at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate on April 19.
Β
COWARD COLLECTS WEEKLY HONORS
Barbara Coward earned her third career Big West Field Athlete of the Week award following a pair of first-place finishes at the Big West Challenge on April 6. Coward started her day by winning the hammer throw where she had a school-record 187-07 on her final attempt. She crushed her PR coming into the meet by over 10 feet and overtook the top spot in program history, breaking Bridget Devaney's two-year old record of 182-05. Coward returned to action a couple hours later for her third-straight Big West Challenge discus title as she registered a then season-best 169-03.
Β
RECORD BREAKER
Senior Persis William-Mensah, who is a four-time All-Big West performer, has continued to add to her legacy as one of UC Irvine's all-time great sprinters. At the UCI Spring Break Collegiate Classic (March 17), the Costa Mesa, Calif., native, broke a 22-year old school record in the 200m with a lifetime-best 23.90. She was the first 'Eater to run a sub-24 second 200m, shattering Toby Dean's standard of 24.06, which had held up since 1996. One week later, she topped that performance with another PR of 23.88 at the UC Riverside Spring Track Classic. On April 6, William-Mensah established a new program record in the 100m for the fourth year in a row. She clocked in at a wind-legal career-best 11.51 to beat her previous mark of 11.57. William-Mensah now owns UCI's top times in the 100m (11.51), 200m (23.88) and 4x100 (44.51).
Β
INTERNATIONAL FLAIR
William-Mensah has also put her talent on display at the international level as she was one of 16 athletes to represent Ghana at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was selected for the 4x100 relay pool after running the 100m at the African Senior Track & Field Championships. In addition, William-Mensah was a member of Ghana's 4x100 that earned a berth into the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.
Β
BUSHNELL BRINGS THE HEAT
Junior Hope Bushnell has joined William-Mensah to make a formidable 1-2 punch in the 100m and 200m. Bushnell has established two personal records in both events this year. At the UCR Spring Track Classic, she claimed the 100m title in a wind-legal lifetime-best 11.77, while running an all-conditions career-best of 24.06 in the 200m. She went on to improve those times at the Big West Challenge where she clocked in at 11.76 and 24.03, respectively. Bushnell now ranks second in school history in the 200m and is tied for third in the 100m.
Β
HURDLE LEADERS
Junior Julia Sambvani improved her personal record in the 400m hurdles by over a second with a time of 60.97 at the Beach Invitational. She was just .12 seconds shy of tying the 10th-best mark in school history. Senior Tyra Jones also ran a wind-aided season-best 13.77 in the 100m hurdles at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate. Sambvani and Jones both rank among the top-five in the Big West in their respective events.
Β
RAISING THE BAR
Junior pole vaulter Adrienne Lee has either tied or bettered her PR four times this season. She matched her old career-best of 11-03.75 at the season-opening Ben Brown Invitational before clearing 11-06.25 at the UCR Spring Track Classic and 11-07.75 at the Mondo Team Challenge. Lee continued to raise the bar at the Big West Challenge where she reached 11-11.75 to move into a tie for fourth on UCI's all-time charts.
Β
HAMMER TIME
UC Irvine's hammer throwers had quite a day at the Big West Challenge on April 6. Junior Barbara Coward headlined the meet for the Anteaters as she established a school record en route to an individual victory. Coward took over the lead on her third attempt (181-08), before notching a program-best 187-07 on her final throw. Senior Alison Meegan also registered a lifetime-best 180-08, which is third in school history, while sophomore Brianna Villanueva added a career-best 157-00 to rank eighth on UCI's all-time charts.
Β
UP NEXT
The NCAA West Preliminary Round will be held at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, May 24-26.
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Dates: Friday-Saturday, May 11-12
Time: 9 a.m. (PDT)
Location: Matador Track & Field Complex - Northridge, Calif.
TV Coverage: FOX Prime Ticket (Saturday starting at 2 p.m.)
Live Results: finishedresults.com
UC Irvine Meet Notes
The UC Irvine women's track & field team makes its way to Northridge this weekend for the Big West Championships, May 11-12. The conference meet will be held at Matador Track & Field Complex.
Β
The Big West Championships get underway Friday morning with the men's hammer throw at 9 a.m. The running events are then set for an afternoon start with the women's steeplechase at 2 p.m. On Saturday, the women's hammer kicks things off at 9 a.m., while the track events, which will be televised live on FOX Prime Ticket, commence with the women's 4x100 relay at 2:08 p.m. The Anteaters have 20 individuals entered in 17 events.
Β
UCI AT THE BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS
β’ Since 1984, UCI student-athletes have produced 67 individual Big West titles and three championship relay teams.
β’ Last year, the Anteaters finished seventh at the conference meet and had six All-Big West performers (top-three).
β’ Persis William-Mensah was the runner-up in the 100m and 4x100.
β’ Tyra Jones and Hope Bushnell were also part of that 4x100 relay squad.
β’ Barbara Coward added a runner-up showing in the discus.
β’ UC Irvine is still in search of its first Big West Women's Track & Field team title.
β’ The 'Eaters have placed second at the conference meet six times with the last coming in 1996.
Β
QUICK HITS
β’ Persis William-Mensah holds three outdoor (100m, 200m, 4x100) and two indoor (60m, 200m) school records.
β’ She bettered her own 100m standard at the Big West Challenge with a wind-legal career-best 11.51.
β’ William-Mensah also broke the 200m record twice in as many weeks, most recently running a PR 23.88 on March 24.
β’ Barbara Coward was named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week on April 10.
β’ She was recognized after winning the hammer and discus with league-leading marks at the Big West Challenge.
β’ Coward has broken the school record in the hammer throw four times this year and her current best stands at 192-03.
β’ Hope Bushnell ranks among the Anteaters' all-time top-10 in the 100m (T3rd, 11.76) and 200m (2nd, 24.03).
β’ UC Irvine's 38-woman roster features 13 newcomers, including 11 freshmen.
Β
LAST TIME OUT: STEVE SCOTT INVITATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
β’ Barbara Coward got the weekend started by breaking her own school record in the hammer throw at 192-03.
β’ Coward, who became the first 'Eater to surpass 190 feet, was the top collegiate finisher, and second overall.
β’ Alison Meegan added a top-10 showing in the hammer where she placed sixth with a mark of 177-05.
β’ Natalie Koppel took seventh out of 43 in the long jump with a lifetime-best 19-05.5. Koppel catapulted herself to No. 3 among UC Irvine's all-time leaders.
β’ Adrienne Lee tied for ninth in the pole vault (11-05.75) for her seventh top-10 finish of the season.
β’ Anastasia Karnaze was fifth in the steeplechase, clocking in with her second-best time of the year at 11:03.78.
β’ Persis William-Mensah was first among collegiate athletes, and second overall, in the 100m (11.54).
β’ Hope Bushnell also came in seventh (11.79), while Mikayla Scott took eighth with a season-best 11.88.
β’ William-Mensah (3rd) and Bushnell (4th) contributed top-five finishes in the 200m.
β’ Simone Buchanan placed fifth in the 400m with a career-best 55.37, which ranks fourth in program history.
β’ Tyra Jones posted her fourth sub-14 second time over her last five 100H races at 13.82 to come in fifth overall.
β’ Julia Sambvani claimed bronze in the 400m hurdles at 61.21.
β’ Bushnell, William-Mensah, Sambvani and Scott combined for a runner-up showing in the 4x100 relay (45.26).
β’ Elizabeth Akindele established a career-best 46-10.25 to finish fifth in the shot put.
Β
BIG WEST LEADER
Junior Barbara Coward enters the Big West Championships as the No. 1 seed in both the hammer and discus. Two weeks ago at the Steve Scott Invitational, she broke her own school record in the hammer throw three times. Coward improved on her previous best with a toss of 188-07 on her last attempt of Flight 3. She then hit 191-08 on her second throw of the finals before unleashing a huge personal-record of 192-03 to wrap up the competition. Coward is the first Anteater in program history, and only individual in the Big West this year, to surpass 190 feet. The Atwater, Calif., native also leads the conference in the discus by over 10 feet with a season-best 173-07, which was the winning mark at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate on April 19.
Β
COWARD COLLECTS WEEKLY HONORS
Barbara Coward earned her third career Big West Field Athlete of the Week award following a pair of first-place finishes at the Big West Challenge on April 6. Coward started her day by winning the hammer throw where she had a school-record 187-07 on her final attempt. She crushed her PR coming into the meet by over 10 feet and overtook the top spot in program history, breaking Bridget Devaney's two-year old record of 182-05. Coward returned to action a couple hours later for her third-straight Big West Challenge discus title as she registered a then season-best 169-03.
Β
RECORD BREAKER
Senior Persis William-Mensah, who is a four-time All-Big West performer, has continued to add to her legacy as one of UC Irvine's all-time great sprinters. At the UCI Spring Break Collegiate Classic (March 17), the Costa Mesa, Calif., native, broke a 22-year old school record in the 200m with a lifetime-best 23.90. She was the first 'Eater to run a sub-24 second 200m, shattering Toby Dean's standard of 24.06, which had held up since 1996. One week later, she topped that performance with another PR of 23.88 at the UC Riverside Spring Track Classic. On April 6, William-Mensah established a new program record in the 100m for the fourth year in a row. She clocked in at a wind-legal career-best 11.51 to beat her previous mark of 11.57. William-Mensah now owns UCI's top times in the 100m (11.51), 200m (23.88) and 4x100 (44.51).
Β
INTERNATIONAL FLAIR
William-Mensah has also put her talent on display at the international level as she was one of 16 athletes to represent Ghana at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was selected for the 4x100 relay pool after running the 100m at the African Senior Track & Field Championships. In addition, William-Mensah was a member of Ghana's 4x100 that earned a berth into the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.
Β
BUSHNELL BRINGS THE HEAT
Junior Hope Bushnell has joined William-Mensah to make a formidable 1-2 punch in the 100m and 200m. Bushnell has established two personal records in both events this year. At the UCR Spring Track Classic, she claimed the 100m title in a wind-legal lifetime-best 11.77, while running an all-conditions career-best of 24.06 in the 200m. She went on to improve those times at the Big West Challenge where she clocked in at 11.76 and 24.03, respectively. Bushnell now ranks second in school history in the 200m and is tied for third in the 100m.
Β
HURDLE LEADERS
Junior Julia Sambvani improved her personal record in the 400m hurdles by over a second with a time of 60.97 at the Beach Invitational. She was just .12 seconds shy of tying the 10th-best mark in school history. Senior Tyra Jones also ran a wind-aided season-best 13.77 in the 100m hurdles at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate. Sambvani and Jones both rank among the top-five in the Big West in their respective events.
Β
RAISING THE BAR
Junior pole vaulter Adrienne Lee has either tied or bettered her PR four times this season. She matched her old career-best of 11-03.75 at the season-opening Ben Brown Invitational before clearing 11-06.25 at the UCR Spring Track Classic and 11-07.75 at the Mondo Team Challenge. Lee continued to raise the bar at the Big West Challenge where she reached 11-11.75 to move into a tie for fourth on UCI's all-time charts.
Β
HAMMER TIME
UC Irvine's hammer throwers had quite a day at the Big West Challenge on April 6. Junior Barbara Coward headlined the meet for the Anteaters as she established a school record en route to an individual victory. Coward took over the lead on her third attempt (181-08), before notching a program-best 187-07 on her final throw. Senior Alison Meegan also registered a lifetime-best 180-08, which is third in school history, while sophomore Brianna Villanueva added a career-best 157-00 to rank eighth on UCI's all-time charts.
Β
UP NEXT
The NCAA West Preliminary Round will be held at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, May 24-26.
Β
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Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Women's Indoor Track
Sprints
/ Women's Indoor Track
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Indoor Track
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps/Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Women's Indoor Track
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles/Sprints
/ Women's Indoor Track
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Indoor Track
Sprints
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