IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine women's track & field head coach Jeff Perkins has announced the addition of 26 student-athletes for the 2020-21 season.
 
"The women's incoming class is the largest we have had in my time here at UCI and it is interlaced with talent," said Perkins. "With this large of an incoming group, we expect to really rely on the veterans to help make the transition smooth. The staff is eager to get started in working with each and every one of our rookies and bringing out the best in all of them."
 
 
Hermela Abrha - Freshman - Distance - Willow Glen HS
Hermela Abrha competed on both the cross country and track & field teams at Willow Glen High School in San Jose. Abrha was a three-time CIF State Cross Country Championship qualifier. She also won the Blossom Valley Athletic League individual title as a junior, while finishing third as a senior. On the track, Abrha claimed runner-up honors in the 3200m at the 2019 BVAL Finals, and advanced to the CIF Central Coast Section meet.
 
Abrha's Personal Bests
1600m = 5:20.83 (2019 Dublin Distance Fiesta)
3200m = 11:14.58 (2019 CCS Top 8 Classic)
 
Tea Akiaten - Freshman - Distance - Mira Mesa HS
Tea Akiaten was a member of both the cross country and track & field teams at Mira Mesa High School. As a junior, she was a CIF-San Diego Section finalist in the 3200m, and a prelim qualifier in the 1600m. She scored in both events at the Western League Finals. In cross country, Akiaten had three-straight top-six finishes at the league meet and earned first-team San Diego City Conference Fall All-League honors. In 2018, she also came in 10th at the Nike Portland XC Invitational, and 13th at the CIF-San Diego Section Cross Country Championships.
 
Akiaten's Personal Bests
1600m = 5:18.64 (2019 CIF San Diego Section Prelims)
3200m = 11:32.90 (2019 CIF San Diego Section Finals)
 
Alexis Alexander - Freshman - Sprints - Santiago HS
Alexis Alexander competed on the track & field team at Santiago High School in Corona. As a junior, she finished third in the 800m at the Big VIII League Finals with a personal-record 2:20.26. Alexander also played basketball, helping the Sharks advance to the 2019 State Championships after winning the CIF-Southern Section Division 3AA title.
 
Alexander's Personal Bests
800m = 2:20.26 (2019 Big VIII League Finals)
 
Cicely Arana - Junior - Sprints - Long Beach City College/San Pedro HS
Cicely Arana spent two years at Long Beach City College competing in the sprints and relays. As a freshman, she was a member of the Vikings' 4x100 that claimed the South Coast Conference title and finished third at the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships. She was also a CCCAA Southern California Regional qualifier in the 100m and 4x400.
 
Arana prepped at San Pedro High School where she was a two-time Marine League runner-up and CIF LA City Section Finalist in the 4x100 relay. Arana also scored in the 100m at the league championships as a junior and senior, while qualifying for the CIF LA City Section Prelims.
 
Arana's Personal Bests
100 = 12.38 (2019 CCCAA Southern California Regional Prelims)
200 = 26.10w (2019 Cerritos Invitational)
 
Isabelle Buncab - Freshman - Distance - Great Oak HS
Isabelle Buncab competed in cross country and track & field at Great Oak High School. As a senior, she finished fifth at the Southwestern League Cross Country Finals, and had a top-five showing at the Mt. SAC XC Invitational. In 2018, she also took third at the league meet, while advancing to the CIF-Southern Section Division Prelims. On the track, Buncab placed among the top-10 in the 1600m at the 2019 league championships.
 
Buncab's Personal Bests
1600m = 5:18.85 (2018 Palos Verdes Distance Day)
3200m = 11:44.94 (2018 Azusa Meet of Champions)
 
Aryel Coats - Freshman - Sprints/Jumps - Carondelet HS
Aryel Coats lettered four years in track & field at Carondelet High School. Coats was a CIF State Championship finalist in the long jump as a junior and in the 4x100 relay as a freshman. She placed 10th overall in the long jump with a personal-record 18-06. Prior to the state meet, Coats was the runner-up at both the NCS Tri-Valley Championship and the CIF North Coast Section Meet of Champions. In the sprints, she took second in the 100m and third in the 200m, while helping the 4x100 relay claim the title at the 2019 East Bay Athletic League Finals. Coats' 4x100 team also won the 2017 EBAL and NCS Tri-Valley Championship.
 
Coats' Personal Bests
100m = 12.07 (2019 NCS Tri-Valley Championship)
200m = 25.02 (2019 NCS Tri-Valley Championship)
Long Jump = 18-06 (2019 CIF State Championship Finals)
 
Madison Elliott - Freshman - Distance - Serrano HS
Madison Elliott competed in cross country and track & field at Serrano High School in Phelan, California. As a junior, she was a member of the 4x400 relay team that claimed the Mojave River League title, and advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 Prelims. She also came in third in the 800m at the league meet. In addition, Elliott was a two-time CIF State Cross Country Championship qualifier.
 
Elliott's Personal Bests
800m = 2:25.83 (2018 King Soph/Frosh Classic)
1600m = 5:17.91 (2019 Trabuco Hills Distance Carnival)
3200m = 12:13.93 (2017 Oak Hills vs. Serrano Dual Meet)
 
Cassious Fiaui - Freshman - Throws - Fremont HS
Cassious Fiaui prepped at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, California. She competed in the throws, finishing as the runner-up in the shot put at the 2019 Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Championships. She went on to place eighth at the CIF Central Coast Section Finals. Fiaui was also a league finalist in the discus (8th). In 2020, she won the shot put and discus in a dual meet at Santa Clara High School before her senior season was canceled.
 
Fiaui's Personal Bests
Shot Put = 37-05 (2019 CIF Central Coast Section Finals)
Discus = 93-01 (2020 Rustbuster Invitational)
 
Journee Harvey - Freshman - Hurdles - Carondelet HS
Journee Harvey lettered in track & field at Carondelet High School. Before the 2020 season was cut short, Harvey won the 300m hurdles, while also contributing to the 4x100 and 4x400 that took top honors at the Clayton Valley Ugly Eagles Relay Invitational. As a junior, she was the East Bay Athletic League champion in the 300H and 4x100, and claimed runner-up honors in the 4x400. Harvey went on to compete in all three events at the NCS Tri-Valley Championship and the CIF North Coast Section Meet of Champions.
 
Harvey's Personal Bests
300H = 46.81 (2019 CIF North Coast Section Meet of Champions)
 
Myah Hatcher - Freshman - Hurdles - Eleanor Roosevelt HS
Myah Hatcher competed in the sprints and hurdles at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. As a junior, she placed 12th in the 300m hurdles at the CIF State Championships after posting a top-five finish at both the CIF-Southern Section Division I Finals and the CIF-SS Masters Meet. Hatcher was also the Big VIII League runner-up in the 100H and 300H. In 2018, she was the 300H league champion and a CIF-SS Prelim qualifier in both hurdle events.
 
Hatcher's Personal Bests
100H = 14.99 (2019 Big VIII Finals)
300H = 44.20 (2019 CIF Southern Section Masters Meet)
 
Morgan Jennings - Freshman - Sprints - Mater Dei HS
Morgan Jennings prepped at Mater Dei High School. As a senior, she ran a personal-record 58.68 for a runner-up finish in the 400m at the South County Classic. She also won the event at the Mater Dei Invitational. In 2019, Jennings took second in the 400m and fourth in the 200m at the Trinity League Finals. She went on to compete in the 200m, 400m, 4x100 and 4x400 at the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 Prelims.
 
Jennings' Personal Bests
200m = 26.28 (2019 Dual Meet vs. Orange Lutheran)
400m = 58.68 (2020 South County Classic)
 
Carly Johnson - Freshman - Javelin - Napa HS
Carly Johnson graduated from Napa High School. She is a javelin thrower who competed for the Napa Track Club. In 2019, Johnson finished seventh at the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics with a lifetime-best and NTC record 121-02 (36.95m).
 
Johnson's Personal Bests
Javelin = 121-02 (2019 USA Track & Field Junior Olympics)
 
Mia Marquez - Freshman - Sprints - Helix HS
Mia Marquez was a four-year letterwinner in track & field at Helix High School. As a junior, she was a CIF-San Diego Section qualifier in four events and advanced to the finals in both the 400m and 4x400. At the Grossmont Valley League Finals, Marquez was part of the 4x400 relay that took top honors. She was also the runner-up in the 400m, while adding top-four finishes in the 200m and 4x100. In addition, Marquez was a CIF-SDS qualifier as a freshman and sophomore.
 
Marquez's Personal Bests
200m = 26.43 (2019 Grossmont Varsity Conference Finals)
400m = 58.85 (2019 CIF San Diego Section Finals)
 
Zoi Meaders - Freshman - Sprints - Chino Hills HS
Zoi Meaders lettered four years at Chino Hills High School where she competed in the sprints, relays and pole vault. Before the 2020 season was canceled, Meaders helped the Huskies claim the 4x400 title at the Brea Rotary Relays. As a junior, she took sixth in the 400m and was the runner-up in the pole vault at the Baseline League Finals. Meaders was a three-time CIF-Southern Section Division I Prelim qualifier in the pole vault.
 
Meaders' Personal Bests
200m = 27.39 (2018 Dual Meet vs. Upland HS)
400m = 61.57 (2020 Colt Classic Invitational)
 
Diane Molina - Freshman - Distance - Costa Mesa HS
Diane Molina was a standout on both the cross country and track & field teams at Costa Mesa High School. Molina had three-straight top-15 finishes at the CIF State Cross Country Championships, highlighted by back-to-back fifth-place showings as a junior and senior. She won the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 Prelims and came in fifth at the CIF-SS Division Finals in 2018 and 2019. In addition, Molina was the 2018 Orange Coast League individual cross country champion. Molina is a three-time Daily Pilot Girls' Cross Country Runner of the Year. On the track, she defended her 800m title, while also helping the 4x400 relay to a first-place finish at the league championships as a junior. One year earlier, she took top honors at the league meet in the 800m, 1600m and 3200m.
 
Molina's Personal Bests
800m = 2:25.65 (2019 Orange Coast League Finals)
1600m = 5:10.48 (2019 Colt Classic)
3200m = 10:57.86 (2019 Orange County Championships)
 
Samantha Moore - Freshman - Distance - Crescenta Valley HS
Samantha Moore lettered in cross country and track & field at Crescenta Valley High School. As a junior, she finished third in the 1600m, while also scoring in the 3200m (6th) at the Pacific League Finals. In cross country, Moore was the runner-up at the 2019 league championships, and advanced to the CIF-SS Division Finals as a sophomore and senior.
 
Moore's Personal Bests
1600m = 5:18.87 (2019 Pacific League Finals)
3200m = 11:40.47 (2020 Crescenta Valley Distance Invite)
 
Hana Nip - Freshman - Distance - Mission San Jose HS
Hana Nip competed three years on the cross country and track & field teams at Mission San Jose High School. As a junior, she was the runner-up in the 800m at the Mission Valley Athletic League Finals, and came in fourth at the North Coast Section Bayshore Championships. In cross country, Nip finished second at the 2019 MVAL Championships.
 
Nip's Personal Bests
800m = 2:21.69 (2019 Golden West Invitational)
1600m = 5:28.88 (2020 Stocking Super Seven Invitational)
 
Lindsey Ona - Sophomore - Distance - Armijo HS
Lindsey Ona will begin her second year at UC Irvine, but first as a member of the cross country and track & field teams. She prepped at Armijo High School where she was the 800m runner-up at the 2019 Monticello Empire League Championships. She was also a two-time CIF-Sac Joaquin Section finalist. In cross country, she placed among the top-10 at the league meet as a senior.
 
Ona's Personal Bests
800m = 2:23.75 (2019 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Championships)
 
Brianna Potter - Freshman - Distance - Vista Murrieta HS
Brianna Potter was a member of the cross country and track & field teams at Vista Murrieta High School. As a freshman, she competed at the 2016 CIF State Cross Country Championships. She also finished 11th at the Southwestern League Finals and 29th at the CIF-Southern Section meet. On the track, Potter focused primarily on the 800m and 1600m, running personal-bests of 2:22.36 and 5:23.13, respectively.
 
Potter's Personal Bests
800m = 2:22.36 (2017 Southwestern League Finals)
1600m = 5:23.13 (2017 Meet of Champions)
 
Kayla Richardson - Grad Transfer - Sprints - USC/Walnut HS
Kayla Richardson graduated from USC in May 2020. She competed three years on the Trojan track & field team, running the 200m and 400m. As a freshman, she was an NCAA West Preliminary qualifier in the 400m. Earlier in the season, she established a Philippine national record with a personal-best 53.81 at the Mt. SAC Relays.
 
Richardson prepped at Walnut High School where she was a CIF State Championship qualifier in the 100m, 200m and 4x100. In 2015, she claimed the CIF-Southern Section Division I titles in the 100m (11.65) and 200m (23.45w).
 
Richardson's Personal Bests
100m = 11.65 (2015 CIF-Southern Section Division I Finals)
200m = 23.45w (2015 CIF-Southern Section Division I Finals)
400m = 53.81 (2017 Mt. SAC Relays)
 
Phoebe Roach - Freshman - Pole Vault - Branham HS
Phoebe Roach competed primarily in the pole vault at Branham High School. She was a two-time CIF-Central Coast Section finalist, and finished third at the Blossom Valley Athletic League Championships in 2018 and 2019. As a junior, she was the runner-up at the Arcadia Invitational, clearing a personal-record 11-07. Roach was also a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams that qualified for the CIF-CCS prelims.
 
Roach's Personal Bests
Pole Vault = 11-07 (2019 Arcadia Invitational)
 
Kassidy Sani - Freshman - Throws - El Molino HS
Kassidy Sani lettered three years in track & field at El Molino High School. As a junior, she was a CIF State Championship qualifier in the discus after winning the event at the NCS Redwood Empire Championships and claiming runner-up honors at the CIF North Coast Section Meet of Champions. Sani also won the shot put and took second in the discus at the North Bay League Finals. Before the 2020 season was cut short, Sani was a double champion in the shot put and discus at the GST Zombie Apocalypse Throws Meet, and won the discus at the Big Cat Invitational.
 
Sani's Personal Bests
Shot Put = 35-07 (2020 GST Zombie Apocalypse Throws Meet)
Discus = 140-10.5 (2020 Practice Meet)
 
Ashley Tabag - Freshman - Sprints - Centennial (Corona) HS
Ashley Tabag was a four-year letterwinner at Centennial High School in Corona. As a sophomore, she was a member of the relay teams that took first in the 4x100 and second in the 4x400 at the 2018 Big VIII League Finals. Both of those quartets qualified for the CIF-Southern Section Division I Prelims. In 2019, Tabag competed in the 100m, 200m, 4x100 and 4x400 at the league meet.
 
Tabag's Personal Bests
100m = 12.62 (2018 Big VIII Finals)
200m = 26.06 (2018 Big VIII Finals)
 
Deandra Tyler - Freshman - Throws - Atascadero HS
Deandra Tyler competed in the throws at Atascadero High School. In 2019, she was the runner-up in the shot put and took third in the discus at the CIF West Area Meet. She went on to compete in both events at the CIF-Central Section Masters Meet. Tyler also had a top-three finish in the shot put and discus at the CCAA Mountain League Championships.
 
Tyler's Personal Bests
Shot Put = 40-08.25 (2019 CIF Central Section Masters Meet)
Discus = 119-08 (2019 CIF West Area Meet)
 
Laura Yontz - Freshman - Distance - Long Beach Poly HS
Laura Yontz lettered in cross country and track & field at Long Beach Poly High School. As a senior, she competed in one meet before the season was canceled, claiming runner-up honors in the 1600m at the Long Beach TrackRabbit Invitational. As a member of the cross country team, she had back-to-back top-10 finishes at the Moore League Finals and competed at the CIF-Southern Section Division Prelims in 2018 and 2019.
 
Yontz's Personal Bests
800m = 2:28.62 (2019 Irvine/Asics Distance Carnival)
1600m = 5:36.52 (2019 Moore League Finals)
 
Sophia Zago - Freshman - Distance - El Segundo HS
Sophia Zago lettered in both cross country and track & field at El Segundo High School. She was a three-time CIF State Cross Country Championship qualifier with a high finish of 25th as a senior. In her final season, she was also the Ocean League champion and runner-up at the Nike Portland XC Invitational. On the track, Zago was a back-to-back CIF-Southern Section Division 3 Prelim qualifier in the 800m. In 2018, she ran a personal-record 2:19.16 to advance to the CIF-SS Finals where she had a top-10 showing. Zago also claimed the 800m league title as a sophomore.
 
Zago's Personal Bests
800m = 2:19.16 (2018 CIF-Southern Section Division 3 Prelims)
1600m = 5:17.9h (2018 Dual Meet vs. Santa Monica HS)
3200m = 11:27.98 (2018 South Bay Championships)