at Beach Opener
Dates: March 4-5 (Friday-Saturday)
Location: Jack Rose Track - Long Beach, Calif.
Live Results // Meet Schedule

Notes (PDF)

IRVINE, Calif. - The 2022 UC Irvine men's track & field team brings back a strong core of returners that includes an All-American and six All-Big West performers, while also adding some depth with a talented incoming group of eight newcomers.
 
"The men's squad is rooted in veteran experience and it will show across the board throughout the season," said head coach Jeff Perkins. "Collectively, we are excited to get the season underway and to continue the tradition of developing great Anteater track & field student-athletes."
 
Junior Josh Farmer leads the way after earning second-team All-America honors in the decathlon last June. He advanced to the 2021 NCAA Championships with a personal-record 7,648 points, which he established in a first-place finish at the APU Franson Classic Multis. His mark ranks second in school history, while he also cracked UCI's all-time top-10 in the long jump (23-11).
 
Senior Seth Enochs will anchor the 'Eaters in the long jump as he has scored in the event in each of his three Big West Championship appearances. He had a high finish of second in 2019 when he also advanced to the NCAA West Preliminaries with a wind-aided personal-record 25-04. 
 
Similar to previous years, the throws are expected to be one of UC Irvine's biggest strengths. In 2021, the throws squad combined for 26 of the team's 66 points at the Big West Championships. Senior Kyle Tsu highlighted the group effort as he won the conference title in the shot put and moved up to No. 2 in program history with a collegiate lifetime-best 59-05.5. Junior Noah Holm and sophomore Justin Willingham also scored in the shot put, while Holm and Tsu added top-eight finishes in the discus. In addition, sophomore Jacob Hawkins is back and looking for a breakout year in the discus.
 
In the sprints/hurdles, the Anteaters have a handful of returners heading up the charge. Junior Malcolm Overbaugh is back after an impressive performance at the 2021 conference meet where he earned All-Big West honors in the 200m (3rd) and took fourth in the 400m. Sophomore Eric Parker also scored in the 400m, while classmate Jarel Sayles garnered all-conference recognition with a third-place finish in the 110m hurdles as a true freshman. UCI will also be looking for contributions from sophomore Drew Pickett, along with sophomore transfer Ty Sheridan and freshman Maxwell Jefferson. Jefferson was the 2021 California High School State Champion in the 110H.
 
UC Irvine will rely on a young crew in the distance events, led by sophomores Lukas Amare and Cameron Smith. Smith was a Big West qualifier last year after running a personal-record 9:39.99 in only his second career steeplechase, while Amare had the team's top 5,000-meter time of the season. The 'Eaters will also lean on a trio of freshmen in Zeid Hussain, Joshua Schuld and Jacob Bustamante. In addition, Miles Duncan returns in the 800m where he is expecting to improve on his sixth-place Big West finish.
 
MORE ON THE BEACH OPENER
The Beach Opener will be hosted by Long Beach State at Jack Rose Track, March 4-5. The men's hammer throw and javelin will be contested on Friday, while the remainder of the events are slated for Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. UC Irvine has 26 student-athletes entered in 14 different events.
  
NEWS & NOTES
• The Beach Opener makes its return after a hiatus in 2021.
• The Beach Opener was UC Irvine's only meet in 2020 before the remainder of the season was canceled.
• The Anteaters have 19 returning letterwinners, seven newcomers and one redshirt freshman.
• Seven individuals will be making their UCI debuts with six competing in their first collegiate track & field meet.
• Josh Farmer earned USTFCCCA All-America and All-Academic distinction last year.
• Farmer finished 16th in the decathlon at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
• He ranks second in school history with a personal-record 7,648 points.
• Kyle Tsu is a two-time NCAA West Preliminary qualifier and the defending Big West champion in the shot put.
• Tsu established a PR 59-05.5 at last year's conference meet to move up to No. 2 on UCI's all-time charts.
• Noah Holm is also fifth all-time in the shot put with a PR 56-10.75, which he established at the 2020 Beach Opener.
• Seth Enochs' wind-legal best of 25-00.75 in the long jump from 2019 ranks fourth in program history.
 
UP NEXT
The Anteaters will head to Santa Barbara next weekend for the UCSB Invitational, March 9-10.