FULLERTON, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's track & field team started the Ben Brown Invitational with the hammer throw, long jump and Distance Carnival Friday at Titan Track Stadium.
 
In the hammer, Deandra Tyler opened the competition with a personal-record 53.51 meters (175-6). That distance was good for fourth overall as she came in behind three UCLA throwers. Tyler improved on her No. 6 mark in program history. DeAna Davis was also fifth with a best of 50.93m (167-1), which came on her sixth and final attempt.
 
Jolie Robinson, the reigning Big West Field Athlete of the Year, claimed runner-up honors in her first outdoor long jump competition. Robinson's leap of 5.78m (18-11.75) was the second-best of the meet and the top mark among collegiate athletes. Kailah McKenzie was next on the leaderboard at 5.66m (18-7).
 
On the track, Sameen Andar led five 'Eaters in the 5000m with a time of 16:20.76. Andar was the first collegiate finisher, and fourth overall in a field of 74 runners. Rebecca Bronstein was next across the line in her first career 5K at 17:52.24. Tea Akiaten (17:55.69), Laura Yontz (18:43.25) and Elizabeth Melcher (19:05.43) all added lifetime bests.
 
Kaia Schmidt was UCI's top performer in the 800m, clocking in at 2:13.68 to take fifth. Reina Kabbara was 15th (2:19.05) and Stella Knobbe (2:23.46) ran a PR.
 
In the 1500m, Anna Vogtmann placed sixth at 4:30.61. Malia Gay was a couple seconds behind in seventh with a time of 4:32.21. Olivia Liuson notched a season-best 4:49.47 (18th) and Montgomery Allison (4:49.97) also had a top-20 performance.
 
UCI returns to Titan Track Stadium tomorrow for the second and final day of the Ben Brown Invitational.