IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine women's indoor track & field team is just under two weeks away from its season-opening meet.
 
The Anteaters are set to kick off the campaign at the Silver & Blue Invitational in Reno, Nevada, Jan. 10-11. It is the first of two trips to the new indoor facility at the Reno Convention Center as they make their way back a couple weeks later for the Nevada Invite/Multis, Jan. 23-25. The 'Eaters will also travel to The Podium in Spokane, Washington, for the Riverfront Invitational & Multis (Feb. 6-8) and the MPSF Championships (Feb. 21-22).
 
UCI welcomes back seven MPSF scorers from last year's team that finished fourth at the conference meet. The Anteaters have also brought in a versatile group of newcomers who have the ability to make an immediate impact across all event areas.
 
"In totality, our team depth is better than it has been in years past," head coach Jeff Perkins said. "We learned a couple lessons from last season, then in the offseason we made some adjustments in our recruiting to strengthen our women's team holistically. I think you'll see that with some of the indoor depth we have."
 
THROWS
UC Irvine has a core group of three returning juniors in the throws. Leading the way is Nyla Baker, who took third in the shot put at the 2024 MPSF Championships. She currently ranks fourth in program history with a best of 14.22 meters (46-8). Nadia Combs-Mahone is also sixth in the shot put (13.05m/42-9.75), while DeAna Davis is seventh among UCI's all-time leaders in the weight throw at 15.18m (49-9.75). In addition, Davis scored in the hammer throw at the Big West Championships during the outdoor season. Entering the mix in 2025 is freshman Pinkie Schnayer, who was the CIF state champion in the shot put as a senior at Campolindo High School.
 
"The throws are always one of our stronger event groups," Perkins said. "We are looking forward to seeing Nyla and DeAna back; they were both conference scorers for us at the Big West Outdoor Championships in 2024, and should be in the MPSF scoring conversation as well. We are also hoping Pinkie can contribute something special."
 
MULTIS
Seniors Jolie Robinson and Jazzmine Davis return in the pentathlon where they rank third and fourth, respectively, in school history. Robinson, who is a two-time Big West champion in the heptathlon, made her way onto the podium at the MPSF Indoor Championships last season, finishing third in the pentathlon. Davis also scored in the event. The Anteaters have added depth to their multis group by bringing in transfer Zharia Taylor (Cerritos College).
 
"In the multi-events, it's still Jolie and Jazzmine leading the way," Perkins said. "We also added Zharia, who already has some Division I experience at Southern Miss, so we are looking forward to seeing what she brings to the table."
 
JUMPS
The Anteaters have the top three long jumpers in indoor program history back for another year. Senior Reyna Johnson is the school record holder at 5.97 meters (19-7), and is the reigning MPSF champion. Pentathlete Jolie Robinson also ranks second among UC Irvine's all-time leaders at 5.84m (19-2), while sophomore Kailah McKenzie is third at 5.80m/19-0.5. McKenzie is coming off an outstanding freshman campaign in which she was an indoor and outdoor conference scorer in both the high jump and long jump. She was named the Big West Freshman of the Year after claiming the outdoor conference title in the high jump. Adding depth in that event will be junior college transfers Esmeray Demirbas (Orange Coast College) and Zharia Taylor, who were first and second, respectively, at the 2024 3C2A California State Championships.
 
SPRINTS & HURDLES
Sophomore Halle Sutherland is expected to anchor the short sprints. Sutherland scored in the 60 meter dash at the 2024 MPSF Championships and was also a Big West finalist in the 100m during the outdoor season. In the 400m, the Anteaters will look to true freshmen Mikah Longcob and Ihe Okoh to make an immediate impact. Leading a deep hurdles group will be Reyna Johnson, Jazzmine Davis and Kailah McKenzie.
 
"Halle will be the one to watch out for in the short sprints," Perkins said. "Then we've added Mikah and Ihe, who both have a lot of upside, so we are looking forward to seeing what they can do in the 400m. In the hurdles, we will be looking to see how Reyna, Kailah and Jazzmine progress this indoor season based off the success they had last year. They should be conference scorers."
 
DISTANCE
Senior Anna Vogtmann is hoping to build off a fall cross country season in which she broke her own 6K school record and claimed runner-up honors at the Big West Championships. Indoors, Vogtmann enters the 2025 season ranked fourth in program history in the mile at 4:59.67. Senior Malia Gay is also among the Anteaters' all-time top-10 in the 800m and mile, while senior Sameen Andar is the school record holder in the 3000m (9:39.12) and 5000m (16:31.81).