Friday, May 16
Long Beach, Calif.
12:00 PM
UC Irvine
at
Big West Championships
UC Irvine Set for Big West Championships This Weekend
May 14, 2025 | Women's Track & Field
Big West Championships
Date:Β Friday-Saturday (May 16-17)
Location:Β Jack Rose Track - Long Beach, Calif.
Meet Info
IRVINE, Calif. -Β UC Irvine women's track & field makes its way to Long Beach State's Jack Rose Track for the Big West Championships, May 16-17. The meet gets underway Friday with the first event scheduled for 12 p.m., while Saturday's action is set for a 10 a.m. start.
HEAD START
The Anteaters scored 12 points in the Big West Heptathlon at Jack Rose Track, May 9-10. They enter the second weekend of the conference meet three points behind host LBSU. Jolie Robinson had a podium finish for the third-straight year as she was the runner-up after winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. Robinson racked up a personal-record 5,524 points, which ranks second among UCI's all-time leaders and sits just 25 points shy of Hall of Famer Lauren Collins' school record. Jazzmine Davis also placed fifth. She registered a lifetime-best 5,368 points to move up to No. 3 in program history.
BIG WEST REWIND
UC Irvine's roster features 34 letterwinners from last year's squad that finished second at the Big West Championships. The 'Eaters, who had their best conference showingΒ since 1996, were only 10.75 points behind host and team champion Cal Poly. UCI returns over 80% of its scoring from 2024, including Jolie Robinson (22), Kailah McKenzie (16) and Reyna Johnson (10), who all accounted for 10+ points each. McKenzie is the reigning high jump champion. UCI has placed among the top four in each of the last four years and is looking for the program's first Big West team title.
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.Β
EVENT SQUAD RANKINGS
The Anteaters are fourth in the nation in the high jump (1.74m/5-8.25) and eighth in the long jump (6.18m/20-3.5) in the latest USTFCCCA Event Rankings released on May 13. UCI is also among the top-25 in the country in the shot put (21st), steeplechase (21st), discus (24th) and 100m hurdles (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.
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 25th in the West Region, while they are also tied for second among the Anteaters' all-time leaders.
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-48 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. 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
ANTEATER SPEEDSTERS
The sprints and hurdles crew has produced five times that rank among the top-five in program history. At the Steve Scott Invitational, sophomore Halle Sutherland ran UCI's second-fastest 200m at 23.69 seconds. She is also third in the 100m with a PR 11.61, while junior Samantha Bartz is tied for fifth (11.76). In addition, junior Esmeray Demirbas sits at No. 2 in school history in the 400H (57.81) and Jazzmine Davis is third in the 100H (13.66).
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
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 then personal-record 5,489 points in the heptathlon at the Bryan Clay Multis. 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). 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. It was the Anteaters' best wind-legal leap since 1983, moving McKenzie up to No. 2 in program history.
UP NEXT
Qualifying individuals and relay teams will compete in the NCAA First Round (West Region) at College Station, Texas, May 28-31.
Date:Β Friday-Saturday (May 16-17)
Location:Β Jack Rose Track - Long Beach, Calif.
Meet Info
IRVINE, Calif. -Β UC Irvine women's track & field makes its way to Long Beach State's Jack Rose Track for the Big West Championships, May 16-17. The meet gets underway Friday with the first event scheduled for 12 p.m., while Saturday's action is set for a 10 a.m. start.
HEAD START
The Anteaters scored 12 points in the Big West Heptathlon at Jack Rose Track, May 9-10. They enter the second weekend of the conference meet three points behind host LBSU. Jolie Robinson had a podium finish for the third-straight year as she was the runner-up after winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. Robinson racked up a personal-record 5,524 points, which ranks second among UCI's all-time leaders and sits just 25 points shy of Hall of Famer Lauren Collins' school record. Jazzmine Davis also placed fifth. She registered a lifetime-best 5,368 points to move up to No. 3 in program history.
BIG WEST REWIND
UC Irvine's roster features 34 letterwinners from last year's squad that finished second at the Big West Championships. The 'Eaters, who had their best conference showingΒ since 1996, were only 10.75 points behind host and team champion Cal Poly. UCI returns over 80% of its scoring from 2024, including Jolie Robinson (22), Kailah McKenzie (16) and Reyna Johnson (10), who all accounted for 10+ points each. McKenzie is the reigning high jump champion. UCI has placed among the top four in each of the last four years and is looking for the program's first Big West team title.
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.Β
EVENT SQUAD RANKINGS
The Anteaters are fourth in the nation in the high jump (1.74m/5-8.25) and eighth in the long jump (6.18m/20-3.5) in the latest USTFCCCA Event Rankings released on May 13. UCI is also among the top-25 in the country in the shot put (21st), steeplechase (21st), discus (24th) and 100m hurdles (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.
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 25th in the West Region, while they are also tied for second among the Anteaters' all-time leaders.
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-48 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. 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
ANTEATER SPEEDSTERS
The sprints and hurdles crew has produced five times that rank among the top-five in program history. At the Steve Scott Invitational, sophomore Halle Sutherland ran UCI's second-fastest 200m at 23.69 seconds. She is also third in the 100m with a PR 11.61, while junior Samantha Bartz is tied for fifth (11.76). In addition, junior Esmeray Demirbas sits at No. 2 in school history in the 400H (57.81) and Jazzmine Davis is third in the 100H (13.66).
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
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 then personal-record 5,489 points in the heptathlon at the Bryan Clay Multis. 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). 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. It was the Anteaters' best wind-legal leap since 1983, moving McKenzie up to No. 2 in program history.
UP NEXT
Qualifying individuals and relay teams will compete in the NCAA First Round (West Region) at College Station, Texas, May 28-31.
Players Mentioned
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
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Heptathlon/High Jump
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