SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's track & field team had two individual champions on the first day of the Big West Championships Friday at Cal Poly's Miller & Capriotti Athletics Complex.
 
For the second year in a row, Liam Miksic won the Big West javelin title on his sixth and final attempt. Sitting in second through five rounds, he launched a meet-best 64.56 meters (211-9) to defeat Nikolaj Freschlin of Long Beach State by five inches. Miksic also went for over 200 feet on his fifth throw (62.70m/205-8). Logan Peyton added five points with a fourth-place showing (60.03m/196-11).
 
Jacob Hawkins became the Anteaters' first Big West champion in the men's discus since 1992. He took the lead on his second attempt and stayed out front the rest of the way. He saw two improvements in the final, finishing with a best of 58.94 meters (193-4), which was just shy of his school record 59.03m (193-8). Justin Willingham also took fourth (53.08m/174-1).
 
This is the fourth-straight year the 'Eaters have had an individual conference champion in the throws.
 
Garren Haynes scored in the long jump were he was fourth overall with a personal-record 7.38m (24-2.5). Haynes' mark ranks ninth in program history.

Josh Farmer, who won the Big West decathlon last weekend, added two more points in the high jump as he matched his lifetime-best at 1.96m (6-5) to take seventh.
 
On the track, Joshua Schuld scored in the 3000m steeplechase, placing eighth overall with a time of 9:26.05. Lukas Amare was also eighth in the 10K, crossing the finish line in 30:41.72.
 
Drew Pickett automatically advanced to tomorrow's 110m hurdle final with a second-place finish in Heat 1 of the prelims. Pickett ran a wind-aided personal-record 13.90. Jarel Sayles was also a time qualifier, clocking in at 14.26.
 
Ashton Fegel came up just short of qualifying for the 400m hurdle final as he notched a personal-record 54.58 to come in ninth.
 
The Anteaters are currently third in the team standings with 54 points. Host Cal Poly (64) holds the early lead, while Cal State Fullerton (59) is second.
 
UC Irvine returns to Miller & Capriotti Athletics Complex Saturday for the final day of the Big West Championships.