'Eaters Post Top Finishes at Ben Brown Invite

Friday, March 8

Fullerton, CA

1:30 PM PT

UC Irvine

Ben Brown Invitational

Photo by: John Fajardo

'Eaters Post Top Finishes at Ben Brown Invite

March 09, 2019 | Women's Track & Field

FULLERTON, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's track & field team produced the top collegiate finisher in three of the four events they competed in at the Ben Brown Invitational this weekend at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Track Complex.

On Saturday, Elizabeth Akindele claimed the shot put title with a season-best 45-03.75.

Senior Barbara Coward was second overall, and first among collegians, in the discus at 175-06. Junior Brianna Villanueva took fifth with a personal-record 157-07, which ranks seventh in school history. Freshmen Tayla Crenshaw (123-06) and Cassidy Arias (111-00) added season bests.

In the pole vault, senior Adrienne Lee tied for eighth (11-01.75). It was her first competition of the year.

On Friday, Coward earned her second individual victory in the hammer throw in as many meets this season. She finished ahead of the pack with a toss of 187-03. Villanueva also had a fourth-place finish with a personal-record 160-03, while Crenshaw came in sixth with a season-best 158-02. Villanueva moved up two more spots on UCI's all-time charts to No. 5, and Crenshaw cracked the top-10 as she ranks seventh in program history.

The Anteaters are back in action next weekend, hosting the UC Irvine Collegiate Classic, March 15-16.