Friday, May 2
Irvine, Calif.
12:00 PM
UC Irvine
vs
Steve Scott Invitational
UC Irvine Ready for Steve Scott Invitational
May 01, 2025 | Women's Track & Field
Steve Scott Invitational
Date:Β Friday-Saturday (May 2-3)
Location:Β Anteater Stadium - Irvine, Calif.
Meet Info
IRVINE, Calif. -Β UC Irvine women's track & field returns to Anteater Stadium this weekend to host the Steve Scott Invitational, May 2-3. On Friday, a handful of field events get underway at 12 p.m., while the distance events on the track are slated for a 6:30 p.m. start. The 'Eaters will be back on Saturday with a full day of action starting at 11 a.m., and a Senior Day recognition scheduled for 4:15 p.m.
RECORD-BREAKING RELAY
Esmeray Demirbas, Lauren Aquino, Jazzmine Davis and Jolie Robinson broke a 13-year-old school record in the 4x400 at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 18. The quartet clocked in at 3:41.03 to top the previous standard of 3:42.25. On the final day of the meet, Demirbas also ran the second-fastest 400m hurdle time in program history with a personal-best 57.81. At the Bryan Clay Invitational, three 'Eaters made their way into UCI's top-five in their respective events. Kaia Schmidt (10:45.24) and Montgomery Allison (10:46.99) moved up to No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, in the steeple, while Malia Gay (4:19.75) now ranks fifth in the 1500m.
EVENT SQUAD RANKINGS
The Anteaters are fourth in the nation in both the high jump (1.74m/5-8.25) and the long jump (6.18m/20-3.5) in the latest USTFCCCA Event Rankings released on April 29. UCI is also among the top-25 in the country in the steeplechase (19th), shot put (19th), discus (20th), 100m hurdles (21st), 400m hurdles (24th) and 800m (24th). The rankings average out the season-best qualifying marks from a team's top-four athletes on the national descending order list. A team must have four or more athletes with a valid season-best mark to achieve a ranking in a particular event.
THE BIG THREE
In the long jump, senior Reyna Johnson, sophomore Kailah McKenzie and senior Jolie Robinson rank 1-2-3 in The Big West and are among the top-40 in the West Region. Johnson leads the way with a wind-aided personal-record 6.34m (20-9.75), which she established at the Vince O'Boyle Classic on March 28. McKenzie is right behind Johnson with a PR 6.33m (20-9.25) that she set in a victory at the Challenge Cup on March 15. Johnson and McKenzie are 32nd and 36th in the nation, respectively. Robinson also notched a PR 6.19m (20-3.75) in her first long jump competition of the outdoor campaign at the UCR Spring Classic on March 22.Β
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jolie Robinson, Reyna Johnson and Kailah McKenzie have all been named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week this season. Robinson was recognized on April 15 after establishing a personal-record 5,489 points in the heptathlon at the Bryan Clay Multis. Her score ranks second in program history, while it puts her first in the Big West, eighth in the West Region and 15th in the nation this season. Johnson earned the award on April 1, following her effort in the long jump at the Vince O'Boyle Classic where she registered a wind-aided PR 6.34m/20-9.75 (+2.7).Β
BACK-TO-BACK
Kailah McKenzie won back-to-back Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week honors on March 11 and March 18. McKenzie earned her first award of the season following a high jump victory where she cleared 1.76 meters (5-9.25) at the Beach Opener. The following week, the 2024 Big West Women's Freshman of the Year was recognized for her winning long jump mark of 6.33m (20-9.25) at the Challenge Cup. McKenzie's distance is 21st in the West Region and was the Anteaters' best wind-legal leap since 1983, moving her up to No. 2 in program history.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Juniors Zharia Taylor and Esmeray Demirbas both cleared a personal-record 1.79 meters (5-10.5) in the high jump at the Challenge Cup on March 15. Taylor did not miss at her first five heights to finish first, while Demirbas claimed runner-up honors. The UCI duo lead the Big West and are tied for 20th in the West Region, while they are also tied for second among the Anteaters' all-time leaders.
LET IT FLY
Junior Nyla Baker has four individual victories this season. Baker won the discus at the Ben Brown Invitational, Challenge Cup and UCR Spring Classic, while she took first in the shot put at the Vince O'Boyle Classic. This season, Baker has established personal bests in the shot put (15.53m/50-11.5) and discus (49.85m/163-6) which rank third and seventh, respectively, on UCI's all-time charts. Junior DeAna Davis also claimed the title in the hammer throw at the Ben Brown Invite and UCR Spring Classic. She notched a PR 57.65m (189-1) in a runner-up showing at the VOB Classic, which puts her second in school history. Freshman Pinkie Schnayer has added three wins in the shot put including at the Challenge Cup where she hit a lifetime-best 14.74m (48-4.5) to rank fourth in program history.
LEAVING THEIR MARK
Seniors Malia Gay and Luz Mercado went 1-2 in the 800m at the Challenge Cup and Triton Invitational. In the latter meet, Gay (2:06.21) and Mercado (2:06.96) both established personal bests that rank among the top-five in school history. Their times are also first and second in the Big West.Β
ANTEATER SPEEDSTERS
Sophomore Halle Sutherland won the 100m in a wind-legal personal-best 11.63 seconds at the Challenge Cup. Sutherland bettered her time at the Triton Invitational where she crossed the finish line in 11.61. She ranks fourth in the Big West this season and moved up one spot to No. 3 in program history. Junior Samantha Bartz added a PR 11.77 in the 100m at the Vince O'Boyle Classic to rank seventh among UCI's all-time leaders.
Β
UP NEXT
UCI will head to Long Beach for the first weekend of the Big West Championships where it will compete in the heptathlon, May 9-10.
Date:Β Friday-Saturday (May 2-3)
Location:Β Anteater Stadium - Irvine, Calif.
Meet Info
IRVINE, Calif. -Β UC Irvine women's track & field returns to Anteater Stadium this weekend to host the Steve Scott Invitational, May 2-3. On Friday, a handful of field events get underway at 12 p.m., while the distance events on the track are slated for a 6:30 p.m. start. The 'Eaters will be back on Saturday with a full day of action starting at 11 a.m., and a Senior Day recognition scheduled for 4:15 p.m.
RECORD-BREAKING RELAY
Esmeray Demirbas, Lauren Aquino, Jazzmine Davis and Jolie Robinson broke a 13-year-old school record in the 4x400 at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 18. The quartet clocked in at 3:41.03 to top the previous standard of 3:42.25. On the final day of the meet, Demirbas also ran the second-fastest 400m hurdle time in program history with a personal-best 57.81. At the Bryan Clay Invitational, three 'Eaters made their way into UCI's top-five in their respective events. Kaia Schmidt (10:45.24) and Montgomery Allison (10:46.99) moved up to No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, in the steeple, while Malia Gay (4:19.75) now ranks fifth in the 1500m.
EVENT SQUAD RANKINGS
The Anteaters are fourth in the nation in both the high jump (1.74m/5-8.25) and the long jump (6.18m/20-3.5) in the latest USTFCCCA Event Rankings released on April 29. UCI is also among the top-25 in the country in the steeplechase (19th), shot put (19th), discus (20th), 100m hurdles (21st), 400m hurdles (24th) and 800m (24th). The rankings average out the season-best qualifying marks from a team's top-four athletes on the national descending order list. A team must have four or more athletes with a valid season-best mark to achieve a ranking in a particular event.
THE BIG THREE
In the long jump, senior Reyna Johnson, sophomore Kailah McKenzie and senior Jolie Robinson rank 1-2-3 in The Big West and are among the top-40 in the West Region. Johnson leads the way with a wind-aided personal-record 6.34m (20-9.75), which she established at the Vince O'Boyle Classic on March 28. McKenzie is right behind Johnson with a PR 6.33m (20-9.25) that she set in a victory at the Challenge Cup on March 15. Johnson and McKenzie are 32nd and 36th in the nation, respectively. Robinson also notched a PR 6.19m (20-3.75) in her first long jump competition of the outdoor campaign at the UCR Spring Classic on March 22.Β
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jolie Robinson, Reyna Johnson and Kailah McKenzie have all been named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week this season. Robinson was recognized on April 15 after establishing a personal-record 5,489 points in the heptathlon at the Bryan Clay Multis. Her score ranks second in program history, while it puts her first in the Big West, eighth in the West Region and 15th in the nation this season. Johnson earned the award on April 1, following her effort in the long jump at the Vince O'Boyle Classic where she registered a wind-aided PR 6.34m/20-9.75 (+2.7).Β
BACK-TO-BACK
Kailah McKenzie won back-to-back Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week honors on March 11 and March 18. McKenzie earned her first award of the season following a high jump victory where she cleared 1.76 meters (5-9.25) at the Beach Opener. The following week, the 2024 Big West Women's Freshman of the Year was recognized for her winning long jump mark of 6.33m (20-9.25) at the Challenge Cup. McKenzie's distance is 21st in the West Region and was the Anteaters' best wind-legal leap since 1983, moving her up to No. 2 in program history.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Juniors Zharia Taylor and Esmeray Demirbas both cleared a personal-record 1.79 meters (5-10.5) in the high jump at the Challenge Cup on March 15. Taylor did not miss at her first five heights to finish first, while Demirbas claimed runner-up honors. The UCI duo lead the Big West and are tied for 20th in the West Region, while they are also tied for second among the Anteaters' all-time leaders.
LET IT FLY
Junior Nyla Baker has four individual victories this season. Baker won the discus at the Ben Brown Invitational, Challenge Cup and UCR Spring Classic, while she took first in the shot put at the Vince O'Boyle Classic. This season, Baker has established personal bests in the shot put (15.53m/50-11.5) and discus (49.85m/163-6) which rank third and seventh, respectively, on UCI's all-time charts. Junior DeAna Davis also claimed the title in the hammer throw at the Ben Brown Invite and UCR Spring Classic. She notched a PR 57.65m (189-1) in a runner-up showing at the VOB Classic, which puts her second in school history. Freshman Pinkie Schnayer has added three wins in the shot put including at the Challenge Cup where she hit a lifetime-best 14.74m (48-4.5) to rank fourth in program history.
LEAVING THEIR MARK
Seniors Malia Gay and Luz Mercado went 1-2 in the 800m at the Challenge Cup and Triton Invitational. In the latter meet, Gay (2:06.21) and Mercado (2:06.96) both established personal bests that rank among the top-five in school history. Their times are also first and second in the Big West.Β
ANTEATER SPEEDSTERS
Sophomore Halle Sutherland won the 100m in a wind-legal personal-best 11.63 seconds at the Challenge Cup. Sutherland bettered her time at the Triton Invitational where she crossed the finish line in 11.61. She ranks fourth in the Big West this season and moved up one spot to No. 3 in program history. Junior Samantha Bartz added a PR 11.77 in the 100m at the Vince O'Boyle Classic to rank seventh among UCI's all-time leaders.
Β
UP NEXT
UCI will head to Long Beach for the first weekend of the Big West Championships where it will compete in the heptathlon, May 9-10.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Heptathlon
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Heptathlon
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Heptathlon/High Jump
/ Women's Track & FieldAnteater Spotlights | Ep. 6 | Zharia Taylor
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