IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's indoor track & field team is gearing up for the 2024 season which gets underway in two weeks.
 
The Anteaters will make their season debut at the Spokane Indoor Challenge, Jan. 12-13. After a trip to Albuquerque the following weekend, UCI returns to the Pacific Northwest for its final two meets, including the MPSF Championships, Feb. 25-26. 
 
The 'Eaters have continued to build depth across all event areas. They have a strong core group of returners, while bringing in an influx of young talent for the upcoming campaign.
 
"With the addition of some rookies along with the development of our returners, I feel like this is our most talented women's team we've had across the board," said 11th-year head coach Jeff Perkins. "With that, there are a lot of ups and downs in a track season, even in one as short as the indoor campaign, but I'm really looking forward to it because we have a lot of dynamic athletes who can do a lot of different things. We should see more top-10 marks and potential records being broken this year so it will be exciting."
 
 
THROWS
Senior Deandra Tyler returns to lead the throws squad in 2024. Tyler enters the campaign ranked third in program history in the shot put at 14.90 meters (48-10.75) and fourth in the weight throw with a best of 16.71m (54-10). Tyler finished third in the shot put at the 2023 MPSF Championships, while winning both the shot put and weight throw at the Spokane Indoor Challenge. DeAna Davis is also expected to make an impact in the weight throw.
 
"Deandra Tyler is the clear standout in the shot put," said Perkins. "DeAna Davis has really come along well in the hammer this fall so I'm excited to see what she can do in the weight throw."
 
DISTANCE
The distance crew will once again rely on an experienced group of returners. Last year, junior Sameen Andar broke the indoor school record in both the 3000m (9:39.12) and 5000m (16:37.63) at the MPSF Championships. She was the conference runner-up in the 3K. Junior Anna Vogtmann is also fourth in program history in the mile and was part of UCI's school-record distance medley relay in 2022, while classmate Malia Gay is among the top-10 in the 800m and mile. In addition, the 'Eaters welcome freshman Kaia Schmidt, who is coming off an impressive cross country season.
 
"Sameen Andar will lead us in the 3K, 5K and DMR, and we are looking forward to seeing what Anna Vogtmann can do in the mile through 5K," said Perkins. "Malia Gay will also lead the way in the 800m and mile, while Kaia Schmidt, a rookie from Oregon, should do well for us too."
 
SPRINTS, HURDLES & RELAYS
UC Irvine has built an impressive hurdles crew with the addition of freshmen Kailah McKenzie and Sarah Ajayi. McKenzie finished third in the 100H at the 2023 CIF State Championships, while Ajayi was 10th. Junior transfer Jazzmine Davis (Cerritos College) also joins the 'Eaters after winning the California Community College Athletic Association state title in the 100H. The trio of newcomers will join junior Reyna Johnson and sophomore Lauren Thai to comprise the core of the hurdle group.
 
In the sprints, senior Aryel Coats looks to improve on her top-10 times in the 60m (7.77) and 200m (24.98). Senior Mia Marquez, sophomore Lauren Aquino and freshman Isabella Duarte are also expected to lead the way in the 400m. Marquez owns the 10th-fastest 400m time in program history at 57.96 seconds. In addition, the 'Eaters return senior Alexis Alexander, who ranks among UCI's all-time top-10 in both the 600m (4th) and 800m (3rd).
 
"We are hoping Alexis will break both the 600m and 800m records this year," said Perkins. "We also bring in Isabella Duarte who will run the 400m and 800m. Then we have Mia and Lauren in the 400m, and that whole group will help our 4x400 and DMR as well."
 
MULTIS & JUMPS
UC Irvine will be represented by the last two CCCAA heptathlon state champions in the multis. Junior Jolie Robinson claimed the title as a freshman at Saddleback College in 2022, while Jazzmine Davis did the same as a sophomore at Cerritos College in 2023. Robinson, who joined the Anteaters in January, made an immediate impact at UCI as she was the Big West heptathlon champion in her first season at the NCAA Division I level.
 
"Jolie will do well in the long jump, is a great thrower and is much improved in the hurdles," said Perkins. "Jazzmine is also a great hurdler and long jumper. She is getting better in the throws so her and Jolie complement each other really well on their strengths and weaknesses."
 
Robinson, Davis and Reyna Johnson will also lead the 'Eaters in the jumps. Robinson broke the indoor school record in the long jump last year with a personal-best 5.84m (19-2). Johnson isn't far behind as she is third in program history at 5.69m (18-8). Kailah McKenzie, who was a CIF State finalist in both the high jump and long jump at Orange Vista High School, adds depth to the group.
 
"Kailah can high jump over 5'9" and jump over 20 feet in the long jump," Perkins added. "To do that at the high school level is very impressive. We look forward to seeing what she can do."
 
SCHEDULE
The Anteaters will make the first of three trips to The Podium in Spokane, Washington, for the season-opening Spokane Indoor Challenge, Jan. 12-13. The following weekend, they travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational (Jan. 20).
 
The 'Eaters then return to Spokane for the Riverfront Invitational & Multis (Feb. 1-3) and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships (Feb. 25-26). This marks the third year the MPSF meet will be held at The Podium, which opened in December 2021. Qualifying individuals will advance to the NCAA Indoor Championships in Boston, Massachusetts, March 8-9.
 
"We know The Podium very well and it's a high-level performance facility, so I wanted to get our athletes on that track as much as possible prior to the conference meet," Perkins said. "Then with Albuquerque, that is a great meet specifically for the ballistic events so we're trying to get as much out of that as we can to set us up for the Riverfront Invitational and the MPSF Championships."