joshua-schuld-mxc-2024-irvine-invitational-preview

'Eaters Close out Season-Opening Weekend with Two More Victories

March 08, 2025

LONG BEACH & FULLERTON, Calif. – UC Irvine men's track & field closed out the Beach Opener and Ben Brown Invitational with two more event wins on Saturday.
 
Senior Joshua Schuld started the Beach Opener with a personal-record 8:54.14 in the 3000-meter steeplechase. His time was the fastest in the field and ranks sixth in program history. Schuld shaved nearly 12 seconds off his previous best.
 
The rest of the Anteaters competed in the jumps at LBSU's Jack Rose Track. Junior Kenechukwu Okonkwo took third in the triple jump at 14.91 meters (48-11). Junior Jerry Roberts led a trio of Anteaters in the long jump at 7.12m (23-4.5) to come in fourth overall. Senior Garren Haynes added a fifth-place showing in both the long jump (7.11m/23-4) and triple jump (14.54m/47-8.5).
 
Sophomore Alan Vuong  was fifth in the high jump, clearing the bar at 2.01m (6-7).
 
Over in Fullerton, senior Jacob Hawkins led wire-to-wire in his discus win. Hawkins' best throw of the afternoon came on his first attempt in the final where he hit 55.39 meters (181-8).
 
Hawkins was also the runner-up in the shot put as he was just shy of a personal record at 17.84m (58-6.5). Junior Chimobi Onye notched a lifetime-best 15.16m (49-9) for a top-10 performance.
 
On the track, junior AJ Taylor took third in the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.75 seconds, while senior Ashton Fegel was third in the 400m hurdles (54.80).
 
In his collegiate debut, freshman Justin Johnson was UCI's top finisher in the 200m, placing fifth out of 55 (21.04).
 
Four 'Eaters were also among the top-20 in a field of 56 100m runners. Senior Bryce Bushnell led the way in 10th (10.61), and junior Jake Jensen was right behind him in 11th (10.62). Junior Brandon Burns clocked a collegiate personal-record 10.68 to come in 14th, while sophomore Alex Skalmowski was 17th with a PR 10.70.
 
UC Irvine closed out the meet with a runner-up effort in the 4x100 relay (3:14.36).
 
The Anteaters will make their home debut next Friday, March 14, when they host the Challenge Cup.
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