IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine men's track & field is one week away from the first meet of the 2024 outdoor season as the Anteaters are gearing up for the Beach Opener, March 1-2.
 
The 'Eaters return 18 letterwinners from last year's team that finished sixth at the Big West Championships. They also welcome back three key members of the squad who redshirted the 2023 campaign in two-time All-American Josh Farmer, conference scorer Jacob Hawkins and two-time All-Big West cross country performer Lukas Amare. In addition, UCI brings in 11 newcomers to bolster its roster.
 
UC Irvine has two home meets on its schedule this year with the Vince O'Boyle Track & Field Classic, March 29-30, and the Steve Scott Invitational, April 26-27. The Big West Championships will be held in San Luis Obispo in May.
 
"I am excited about the maturity of our men's team and the identity of who we are heading into the season," said head coach Jeff Perkins. "We have added depth that we have not had before so that should allow for us to have a bigger impact come championship season."
 
MULTIS
Senior Josh Farmer is back from a redshirt season to lead the Anteaters in the decathlon. Farmer advanced to the NCAA Championships where he earned second-team All-America honors in 2021 and 2022. As a sophomore, he established a personal-record 7,648 points which ranks second in program history. He will be joined by junior Max Daniels who was the 2022 California Community College Athletic Association state champion in the decathlon. Last year, Daniels was hampered by injury but still set PRs in four events during the regular season.
 
"The bar has not lowered for Josh and the expectation is that he finds himself on the top of the podium at the Big West Championships and inside the top eight at the NCAA meet," said Perkins. "Max has become a great training partner for Josh, and both have found a way to push each other in practice. For Max, I just want him to remain healthy and contribute where he can and where he feels most comfortable. He's very athletic and can do anything he puts his mind to. He can help us in a lot of ways."
 
THROWS
UC Irvine has boasted an individual Big West champion in the throws in each of the last three years and will be looking to extend that streak in 2024. Junior Liam Miksic leads the charge after claiming UCI's first conference title in the men's javelin and qualifying for the NCAA First Round last season. The Anteaters also bring in junior transfer Logan Peyton, who was an NCAA Division II first-team All-American in the javelin at Azusa Pacific. In the shot put, senior Justin Willingham just missed a podium finish at the 2023 Big West Championships, placing fourth overall, while junior Jacob Hawkins, who is coming off a redshirt year, scored in the discus at the 2022 conference meet.
 
"Liam Miksic is our most prominent thrower from last season, and we have also added a transfer from APU in Logan Peyton which will push that men's javelin in the Big West," said Perkins. "Justin Willingham and Jacob Hawkins should be major contributors to our men's team at the Big West Championships."
 
DISTANCE
The Anteaters have a seasoned distance crew as they return all four of their conference scorers from a year ago. Junior Jacob Bustamante had a fourth-place finish in the 10,000m, while senior Cameron Smith placed among the top-eight in the steeplechase and 5,000m. Junior Joshua Schuld was also fifth in the steeple and junior Zeid Hussain was seventh in the 10K. In addition, UCI welcomes back junior Lukas Amare, who redshirted the 2023 campaign. Amare is a two-time All-Big West performer in cross country.
 
"The distance group brings back veterans in Cameron Smith, Jacob Bustamante, Lukas Amare and Joshua Schuld," said Perkins. "All have been scorers at the conference meet, and we will look to have them do the same this season. We also added freshman Juan Chantaca who I think will be a major contributor for that group as well."
 
SPRINTS, HURDLES & RELAYS
Senior Drew Pickett and junior Jarel Sayles will lead the hurdles group. Pickett has scored in the 110H at the conference championships in each of the last two years. As a sophomore in 2022, he was the Big West runner-up. Sayles was also an all-conference performer in the 110H as a freshman and added the 400H to his events last year. In addition, the 'Eaters bring in freshman Roman Mendoza who was the 2023 CIF-Southern Section champion in the 110H at Santa Margarita Catholic High School.
 
Seniors Eric Parker and Ty Sheridan, along with sophomores Brandon Burns and Jake Preston return in the sprints, while the group will be bolstered with the addition of junior transfer Bryce Bushnell and freshman Alex Skalmowski.
 
"The sprints, hurdles and relays is a group that has added some depth with the additions of Bryce Bushnell, Alex Skalmowski and Roman Mendoza," said Perkins. "Drew Pickett will lead the hurdle group, and the relays now have some pieces that will allow some flexibility in legs we run and when we run them."
 
JUMPS
The jumps will be comprised mostly of newcomers including transfers Anthony Victa and Garren Haynes. Victa is a graduate transfer from UC Santa Barbara where he was a two-time Big West scorer in the triple jump. Haynes comes to UCI from Mt. SAC which won back-to-back CCCAA state titles. Haynes scored in both the long jump and triple jump at the 2023 state championships. Decathlete Josh Farmer will also be a contributor in the long jump where he ranks 10th in school history with a personal-best 7.29 meters (23-11).
 
"The jumps are an area I'm really looking forward to as we added some great additions in the offseason," said Perkins. "Anthony Victa and Garren Haynes will do some good things in the triple jump and long jump. We also brought in freshman Alan Vuong who should be a contributor in the high jump for us."