FULLERTON, Calif. – Junior DeAna Davis led the UC Irvine women's track & field team on the first day of the Ben Brown Invitational Friday at Titan Track Stadium.
 
Davis started the season-opening meet with an individual victory in the hammer throw. Her winning mark of 53.50 meters (175-6) came on her final attempt in Flight 3. Davis beat out the rest of the competition by 22 feet and was just one inch shy of her personal record that ranks seventh in program history.
 
The Anteaters also competed in the Astro AI Distance Classic in the evening. Senior Malia Gay, who is coming off an indoor season in which she was part of three school records, was UCI's top finisher in the 1500m. Gay took fourth out of 57 with a time of 4:32.36. Junior Makena Castillo notched a lifetime-best 4:38.91 to place 10th overall, while senior Maggie Sczupak was 13th (4:42.67).
 
Senior Anna Vogtmann led eight 'Eaters in the 5000m with a ninth-place showing. Vogtmann crossed the finish line in 16:57.38. Freshmen Cynthia Herrera (17:26.06), Liana Lee (17:30.64) and Rachel Moen (17:43.34) were also among the top-25 in a field of 73 athletes.
 
Graduate student Luz Mercado closed out the night with a third-place showing in the 800m. She clocked in at 2:10.66.
 
UCI will be back at Titan Track Stadium on Saturday, March 8, for the second day of the Ben Brown Invite.
 

LONG BEACH, Calif. – UC Irvine had two student-athletes compete in the women's javelin at the Beach Opener Friday at Jack Rose Track.
 
Senior Jolie Robinson finished third overall with a toss of 41.08 meters (134-9). Robinson's top mark of the day came on her first attempt of the meet.
 
Senior Jazzmine Davis added a top-10 showing with a personal-record 36.31 meters (119-1).
 
The Anteaters return to Long Beach tomorrow for the second day of the Beach Opener.