Anteaters Kick off 2024 Campaign at Beach Opener

Friday, March 1

Long Beach, Calif.

All Day

UC Irvine

Beach Opener

Photo by: Regents of the University of California

Anteaters Kick off 2024 Campaign at Beach Opener

February 29, 2024 | Men's Track & Field

Live Results Meet Notes

at Beach Opener
Date: March 1-2 (Friday-Saturday)
Location: Jack Rose Track - Long Beach, Calif.
Meet Info | Meet Schedule

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's track & field team is set to kick off the 2024 season at the Beach Opener, March 1-2. The hammer throw (11 a.m.) and javelin (2 p.m.) are scheduled for Friday, while a full day of events is slated for a 10 a.m. start on Saturday.

QUICK HITS
• Twenty-nine Anteaters are entered in 14 events over the course of the two-day meet at LBSU's Jack Rose Track.
• This is the fifth time in the last six years the 'Eaters will begin the season at the Beach Opener.
• Josh Farmer is a two-time All-American in the decathlon and is back for his senior season after redshirting in 2023.
• Junior Liam Miksic is a two-time All-Big West performer and the reigning conference champion in the javelin.
• Farmer and Miksic rank second in school history in their respective events.
• Justin Willingham is also seventh in the shot put and Jacob Hawkins is eighth in the discus in program history.
• On the track, Drew Pickett (110H), Cameron Smith (Steeple) and Farmer (100m) are among UCI's all-time top-10.

AT A GLANCE
The 'Eaters return 18 letterwinners from last year's team that finished sixth at the Big West Championships. UCI also welcomes back three key members of the squad who redshirted the 2023 campaign and brings in 11 newcomers to bolster its roster.

"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 qualified for the NCAA Championships where he earned second-team All-America honors in 2021 and 2022. He is joined by junior Max Daniels, who was the 2022 California Community College Athletic Association state champion in the decathlon at Mt. SAC. Last year, Daniels was hampered by injury but still set PRs in four events during the regular season.

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 UC Irvine'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 All-American in the javelin at Azusa Pacific. In the shot put, 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.

DISTANCE
The Anteaters have a seasoned distance crew, returning all four of their conference scorers from a year ago. Junior Jacob Bustamante had a fourth-place finish in the 10K, while senior Cameron Smith placed among the top-eight in the steeplechase and 5K. 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. Entering the mix is freshman Juan Chantaca. Chantaca is expected to make an immediate impact after a standout prep career at San Clemente High School.

SPRINTS & HURDLES
Senior Drew Pickett and junior Jarel Sayles lead the hurdles group. Both have earned All-Big West honors (110H) in their careers. The 'Eaters also 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 strengthened with the addition of junior transfer Bryce Bushnell and freshman Alex Skalmowski.

JUMPS
The jumps crew is 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.

UP NEXT
UC Irvine will make the short trip to Fullerton for the Ben Brown Invitational, March 8-9.