Friday, March 29
Irvine, Calif.
10:00 AM
UC Irvine
vs
Vince O'Boyle Track & Field Classic
Anteaters Host Vince O'Boyle Classic on Friday
March 28, 2024 | Women's Track & Field
Vince O'Boyle Track & Field Classic
Date: Friday, March 29
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Anteater Stadium - Irvine, Calif.
Meet Program
IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's track & field team is set to make its home debut this week, hosting the third annual Vince O'Boyle Classic on Friday, March 29. Due to expected rain on Saturday, this year's event was changed to a one-day meet. The field events will start at 10 a.m., while action on the track gets underway at 4:10 p.m., following a recognition ceremony for Vince O'Boyle.
QUICK HITS
• Vince O'Boyle spent 32 years at the helm of the Anteater cross country/track & field program.
• O'Boyle was a 20-time Big West Coach of the Year, mentored an NCAA individual champion and 27 All-Americans.
• He also led the 'Eaters to 12 conference titles in women's cross country and seven in men's cross country.
• Deandra Tyler is unbeaten in the shot put this year with four event wins.
• In her outdoor debut on March 9, freshman Kailah McKenzie won the high jump with a PR of 1.76 meters (5-9.25).
• Jolie Robinson took first in the heptathlon at the UCR Spring Classic Multis last weekend.
• Robinson was named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week for her effort.
MULTIS DEPTH
Junior Jolie Robinson won the heptathlon at the UCR Spring Classic Multis, March 21-22. She finished with an NCAA Division I leading 5,213 points. Last year, Robinson was named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Year and Field Athlete of the Meet after claiming the conference title in the heptathlon, while coming in second in the long jump and seventh in the javelin. She ranks among the top-10 in program history in all three events. Junior Jazzmine Davis also took third in her first heptathlon as an Anteater. She compiled a personal-record 4,877 points which is 10th among UCI's all-time leaders. Davis was the 2023 California Community College Athletic Association state champion in the heptathlon at Cerritos College.
FOUR FOR FOUR
Senior Deandra Tyler is unbeaten in her first four shot put competitions, winning the event at the Aztec Invitational, Challenge Cup, Ben Brown Invitational and Beach Opener. She established a season-best 15.33 meters (50-3.5) at the Ben Brown Invite on March 9. Tyler is a three-time all-conference performer in the shot put and was the Big West runner-up in each of the last two seasons. She ranks third in program history with a personal-record 15.38m (50-5.5), while she is also sixth in the hammer with a best of 54.61m (179-2), which she set at the Challenge Cup on March 15.
BIG TIME DEBUTS
Freshman Kailah McKenzie won the high jump in her outdoor collegiate debut at the Ben Brown Invitational. McKenzie did not miss at her first four heights, ultimately clearing a personal-record 1.76 meters (5-9.25) to rank third in program history. At the Challenge Cup, McKenzie also cracked UCI's top-10 in the long jump at 5.79m (19-0). In addition, freshman Alana Sugue cleared 3.57m (11-8.5) in the pole vault in her first collegiate outdoor meet to rank seventh on the Anteaters' all-time charts.
TOP-TEN START
Sophomore Nyla Baker set personal bests and top-10 marks in both the shot put and discus at the Beach Opener on March 2. Baker ranks sixth in the shot put at 13.89m (45-7) and 10th in the discus at 47.55m (156-0). At the same meet, sophomore DeAna Davis established a PR 53.32m (174-11) in the hammer, which puts her seventh among UCI's all-time leaders.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Junior Sameen Andar is UC Irvine's top returner in the distance events. She is the reigning Big West champion in the 10K and was third in the 5K. Andar, who broke a 37-year-old 5K school record (16:13.12) last season, opened the 2024 campaign with a time of 16:20.76 in a fourth-place showing at the Ben Brown Invitational. Junior Malia Gay, who earned 2023 All-Big West honors in the 800m, ran a season-best 2:10.59 to win the event at the Challenge Cup.
THE BIG THREE
Junior Reyna Johnson, freshman Kailah McKenzie and junior Jolie Robinson all rank among the top-six in The Big West in the long jump. Johnson, a 2023 NCAA First Round qualifier, owns a season-best 5.91m (19-4.75) to sit in third, while McKenzie is fifth (5.79m/19-0) and Robinson is sixth (5.78m/18-11.75).
AT A GLANCE
The Anteaters welcome back 34 letterwinners from last year's team that finished fourth at the Big West Championships. They return nearly 70% of their conference scoring from 2023, including both of their Big West champions in Jolie Robinson (Heptathlon) and Sameen Andar (10K). UCI also brings in 18 newcomers who add depth to the already solid foundation that has been built.
UP NEXT
UC Irvine travels south to La Jolla for the Triton Invitational, April 5-6.
Date: Friday, March 29
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Anteater Stadium - Irvine, Calif.
Meet Program
IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's track & field team is set to make its home debut this week, hosting the third annual Vince O'Boyle Classic on Friday, March 29. Due to expected rain on Saturday, this year's event was changed to a one-day meet. The field events will start at 10 a.m., while action on the track gets underway at 4:10 p.m., following a recognition ceremony for Vince O'Boyle.
QUICK HITS
• Vince O'Boyle spent 32 years at the helm of the Anteater cross country/track & field program.
• O'Boyle was a 20-time Big West Coach of the Year, mentored an NCAA individual champion and 27 All-Americans.
• He also led the 'Eaters to 12 conference titles in women's cross country and seven in men's cross country.
• Deandra Tyler is unbeaten in the shot put this year with four event wins.
• In her outdoor debut on March 9, freshman Kailah McKenzie won the high jump with a PR of 1.76 meters (5-9.25).
• Jolie Robinson took first in the heptathlon at the UCR Spring Classic Multis last weekend.
• Robinson was named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week for her effort.
MULTIS DEPTH
Junior Jolie Robinson won the heptathlon at the UCR Spring Classic Multis, March 21-22. She finished with an NCAA Division I leading 5,213 points. Last year, Robinson was named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Year and Field Athlete of the Meet after claiming the conference title in the heptathlon, while coming in second in the long jump and seventh in the javelin. She ranks among the top-10 in program history in all three events. Junior Jazzmine Davis also took third in her first heptathlon as an Anteater. She compiled a personal-record 4,877 points which is 10th among UCI's all-time leaders. Davis was the 2023 California Community College Athletic Association state champion in the heptathlon at Cerritos College.
FOUR FOR FOUR
Senior Deandra Tyler is unbeaten in her first four shot put competitions, winning the event at the Aztec Invitational, Challenge Cup, Ben Brown Invitational and Beach Opener. She established a season-best 15.33 meters (50-3.5) at the Ben Brown Invite on March 9. Tyler is a three-time all-conference performer in the shot put and was the Big West runner-up in each of the last two seasons. She ranks third in program history with a personal-record 15.38m (50-5.5), while she is also sixth in the hammer with a best of 54.61m (179-2), which she set at the Challenge Cup on March 15.
BIG TIME DEBUTS
Freshman Kailah McKenzie won the high jump in her outdoor collegiate debut at the Ben Brown Invitational. McKenzie did not miss at her first four heights, ultimately clearing a personal-record 1.76 meters (5-9.25) to rank third in program history. At the Challenge Cup, McKenzie also cracked UCI's top-10 in the long jump at 5.79m (19-0). In addition, freshman Alana Sugue cleared 3.57m (11-8.5) in the pole vault in her first collegiate outdoor meet to rank seventh on the Anteaters' all-time charts.
TOP-TEN START
Sophomore Nyla Baker set personal bests and top-10 marks in both the shot put and discus at the Beach Opener on March 2. Baker ranks sixth in the shot put at 13.89m (45-7) and 10th in the discus at 47.55m (156-0). At the same meet, sophomore DeAna Davis established a PR 53.32m (174-11) in the hammer, which puts her seventh among UCI's all-time leaders.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Junior Sameen Andar is UC Irvine's top returner in the distance events. She is the reigning Big West champion in the 10K and was third in the 5K. Andar, who broke a 37-year-old 5K school record (16:13.12) last season, opened the 2024 campaign with a time of 16:20.76 in a fourth-place showing at the Ben Brown Invitational. Junior Malia Gay, who earned 2023 All-Big West honors in the 800m, ran a season-best 2:10.59 to win the event at the Challenge Cup.
THE BIG THREE
Junior Reyna Johnson, freshman Kailah McKenzie and junior Jolie Robinson all rank among the top-six in The Big West in the long jump. Johnson, a 2023 NCAA First Round qualifier, owns a season-best 5.91m (19-4.75) to sit in third, while McKenzie is fifth (5.79m/19-0) and Robinson is sixth (5.78m/18-11.75).
AT A GLANCE
The Anteaters welcome back 34 letterwinners from last year's team that finished fourth at the Big West Championships. They return nearly 70% of their conference scoring from 2023, including both of their Big West champions in Jolie Robinson (Heptathlon) and Sameen Andar (10K). UCI also brings in 18 newcomers who add depth to the already solid foundation that has been built.
UP NEXT
UC Irvine travels south to La Jolla for the Triton Invitational, April 5-6.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Heptathlon
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Heptathlon
/ Women's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
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