Anteaters Ready to Start 2021 Season in Fullerton

Friday, March 12

Fullerton, Calif.

10:00 AM

UC Irvine

Ben Brown Invitational

Anteaters Ready to Start 2021 Season in Fullerton

March 11, 2021 | Women's Track & Field

Ben Brown Invitational
Dates: March 12-13 (Friday-Saturday)
Time: 10 a.m. (PST) / 11 a.m. (PST)
Location: Titans Track & Field Complex - Fullerton, Calif.
Live Results

Notes (PDF)

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's track & field team is ready for its return to competition as it makes the short trip to Fullerton for the Ben Brown Invitational, March 12-13. The Anteaters' last meet came over a year ago when they competed in the 2020 season-opening Beach Opener (March 6-7). The following week, things started to change rapidly as they saw the remainder of their season canceled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's been a challenge to say the least, but we are definitely excited about getting started this week," said head coach Jeff Perkins. "Right now, we are trying to do the best we can to develop everybody across the board."

Leading the way will be a veteran throws group, captained by fifth-year senior Brianna Villanueva. Villanueva returns with the NCAA granting an extra year of eligibility to the 2020 seniors following the cancelation of spring sports. She will contend for a Big West title in the discus and hammer after earning all-conference honors with third-place finishes in both events in 2019. Junior Tayla Crenshaw will also be a triple threat in the shot put, discus and hammer. In addition the Anteaters have four newcomers entering the mix.

In the sprints, Zani Meaders will once again be one of the top 400m runners in the conference. Meaders' last outdoor team competition was at the 2019 Big West Championships where she placed third as a freshman. She ran a personal-record 55.00 in the finals to move up to No. 3 among UCI's all-time top-10. Senior Sha'Maya Flanagan was also impressive in the 400m during the 2020 indoor campaign, but has yet to compete outdoors at UC Irvine after transferring from Arizona State and redshirting the 2019 season.

Graduate transfer Kayla Richardson is expected to be a force in the 100m and 200m. She was the 2015 CIF-Southern Section Division I champion in both events at Walnut High School, before heading to USC where she competed three seasons on the Trojan track & field team. Fifth-year senior Cecily Montanez has also started to set herself apart in the 400m hurdles, while the 'Eaters will be adding 10 newcomers to the sprints/hurdles group.

UC Irvine's distance crew is a big one with 10 returners and 12 incoming freshmen. A familiar face will be at the front of the pack with junior Hannah Chau looking to build on her success at UCI. In 2019, Chau was the first Anteater to score in the 5000m and 10000m at the Big West Championships since 2013. Her 10K time of 35:43.62 ranks fifth in program history.

Senior Natalie Koppel and junior Lorraine Nance are the top returners in the jumps. Koppel ranks third in school history in the long jump with a personal-best 19-05.5, while Nance is seventh in the triple jump at 38-08.75. Nance also scored in the triple jump at the 2019 Big West Championships.

MORE ON THE BEN BROWN INVITE
Cal State Fullerton is hosting the Ben Brown Invitational at Titans Track & Field Complex. UC Irvine has 33 individuals entered in 16 events over the course of two days. The throws and distance events will be held on Friday, while the jumps and sprints/hurdles/relays will be held on Saturday.

NEWS & NOTES
• UC Irvine is set to compete in the Ben Brown Invitational for the fifth year in a row.
• Last season, the Ben Brown Invite was the second meet on UCI's schedule, but was canceled due to the pandemic.
• The 'Eaters have one of their larger rosters in recent history with 29 returners and 26 newcomers.
• Only 18 of the returnees competed in the team's lone meet of 2020.
• Fifteen student-athletes will be making their Anteater debuts this weekend.
• Brianna Villanueva is a two-time All-Big West performer, earning the recognition in the hammer and discus.
• She ranks second in school history in the hammer (186-01) and fourth in the discus (163-10).
• Tayla Crenshaw also enters the season ranked among UCI's all-time top-10 in the shot put and hammer.
• Graduate transfer Kayla Richardson was a 2017 NCAA West Preliminary qualifier in the 400m at USC.
• That same year, she set the Philippines' national 400m record with a time of 53.81 at the Mt. SAC Relays.
• Hannah Chau has earned All-Big West honors in both track (5K, 10K) and cross country (2019).
• She ranks fifth in school history in the 10K with a personal-record 35:43.62.
• Zani Meaders earned all-conference distinction in the 400m as a freshman in 2019.
• She is third in outdoor program history (55.00), and is also the indoor school record holder (54.81).
• Meaders' younger sister, Zoi, joins the Anteaters as a freshman this year.
• The 'Eaters also have a second set of siblings on their roster in twin sisters Chaselyn Amos and Shaelyn Amos.