Thursday, May 29
College Station, Texas
8:00 AM PT
UC Irvine
at
NCAA West First Round
UCI Heads to Texas for NCAA West First Round
May 27, 2025 | Women's Track & Field
NCAA West First Round
Date:Β Wednesday-Saturday (May 28-31)
Location:Β E.B. Cushing Stadium - College Station, Texas
Meet Info
IRVINE, Calif. -Β UC Irvine women's track & field is sending a program-record 10 student-athletes to the NCAA West First Round in College Station, Texas, May 28-31. All of the women's events will be contested on Thursday and Saturday at E.B. Cushing Stadium on the campus of Texas A&M.
QUICK HITS
β’ UC Irvine won the first Big West Women's Track & Field Championship in school history.
β’ The Anteaters (150.5) edged Cal Poly (149) by 1.5 points for the team title.
β’ Eight 'Eaters took home 12 All-Big West honors in the individual events at the conference meet.
β’ UCI's 4x100 relay also had a runner-up showing in a season-best 44.87.
β’ Jazzmine Davis was named the Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Meet.
β’ UC Irvine is among the top-10 in the high jump (5th) and long jump (9th) in the USTFCCCA Event Rankings.
β’ The 'Eaters also rank among the top-25 in the 100H, 400H, steeple and shot put.
β’ The Anteaters have three NCAA First Round qualifiers in both the high jump and long jump.
NYLA BAKER // Shot Put // Junior // 5-11 // Citrus Heights, Calif. // Major: Criminology, Law & Society
β’ Nyla Baker will be making her NCAA debut in the shot put this weekend.
β’ Baker qualified with a personal-record 15.53m (50-11.5), which she set at the Triton Invitational.
β’ Her mark ranks third in program history.
β’ Baker also reached 15 meters in an individual victory at the Vince O'Boyle Classic (15.48m/50-9.5).
DEANA DAVIS // Hammer Throw // Junior // 5-4 // Temecula, Calif. // Major: Education Sciences
β’ DeAna Davis qualified for her first NCAA regional in the hammer throw.
β’ Her top mark of the season came at the Vince O'Boyle Classic where she hit a personal-best 57.65m (189-1).
β’ Davis' PR moved her up to No. 2 in program history.
β’ Davis was the Big West runner-up at 57.50m (188-7), and had two event wins during the regular season.
JAZZMINE DAVIS // 100H & 400H // Senior // 5-4 // Sherman Oaks, Calif. // Major: Sociology
β’ Jazzmine Davis is a first-time NCAA qualifier in the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles.
β’ Davis was named the Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Meet after three podium finishes.
β’ She was the Anteaters' first conference champion in the 400H since 2012 with a lifetime-best 58.14.
β’ Davis took third in the 100H with a wind-aided PR 13.42 and was a member of the second-place 4x100.
β’ She also scored in the heptathlon and 4x400, accounting for 20 individual points and 11 relay points.
β’ Davis ranks among UCI's all-time top three in the 100H (3rd), 400H (3rd), 4x100 (2nd) and heptathlon (3rd).
β’ In addition, she was part of the 4x4 that broke the school record with a time of 3:41.03 at the Mt. SAC Relays.
β’ Davis was the 2023 3C2A state champion in the heptathlon at Cerritos College.
ESMERAY DEMIRBAS // 400m Hurdles & High Jump // Junior // 5-9 // Surrey, B.C. // Major: Sociology
β’ Esmeray Demirbas qualified for the NCAA West First Round in the 400m hurdles and high jump.
β’ Demirbas clocked a PR 57.81 in the 400H at the Mt. SAC Relays to move up to No. 2 in program history.
β’ She also tied UCI's second-best high jump mark with a PR 1.79m (5-10.5) at the Challenge Cup.
β’ Demirbas placed third in both events at the Big West Championships.
β’ Earlier in the year, she was part of the 4x400 that ran a school-record 3:41.03 at the Mt. SAC Relays.
β’ Demirbas, who won the 3C2A state title in the high jump at Orange Coast College, is in her first year at UCI.
β’ She also played basketball at Westcliff University in Irvine prior to her time at OCC.
MALIA GAY // 800m // Senior // 5-5 // Sacramento, Calif. // Major: Public Health Policy
β’ Malia Gay will be making her NCAA debut this week, qualifying in the 800m.
β’ She ran a personal record and won the event in her first two meets of the season.
β’ At the Triton Invitational, Gay clocked her qualifying time of 2:06.21, which ranks third in school history.
β’ Gay earned her third career 800m All-Big West honor with a second-straight runner-up finish at the conference championships.
β’ She was also the Big West runner-up in the 1500m where she ranks fifth all-time at UCI with a PR 4:19.74.
REYNA JOHNSON // Long Jump // Senior // 5-6 // Sacramento, Calif. // Major: SociologyΒ
β’ Reyna Johnson will be making her second NCAA appearance in the long jump (2023, 2025).
β’ She is seeded 18th in the field with a wind-aided personal-record 6.34m (20-9.75).
β’ Johnson surpassed the six-meter mark in five of her six competitions this season.
β’ She was named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week on April 1.
β’ She was also part of the Big West runner-up 4x100 relay that ran the second-fastest time in school history (44.87).
β’ Johnson scored as a conference finalist in the 100H (4th) where she clocked a wind-aided PR 13.57.
β’ Reyna's younger brother, Justin, is an NCAA qualifier in the 200m as a freshman on the UCI men's team.
KAILAH MCKENZIE // Long Jump & High Jump // Sophomore // 5-5 // Moreno Valley, Calif. // Major: Psychological Science
β’ Kailah McKenzie will be making her second-straight trip to the NCAA West First Round in the high jump and first in the long jump.
β’ McKenzie won the long jump at the Challenge Cup with a personal-record 6.33m (20-9.25).
β’ She also took first in the high jump with a season-best 1.76m (5-9.25) at the Beach Opener.
β’ McKenzie ranks second in school history in the long jump and fifth in the high jump.
β’ She earned her second and third career Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week awards earlier this season.
β’ McKenzie was the 2024 Big West Women's Freshman of the Year.
LUZ MERCADO // 800m // Graduate Student // 5-6 // Chula Vista, Calif. // Major: Business Data & Analytics
β’ Luz Mercado qualified for the NCAA West First Round in her first year as an Anteater.
β’ Mercado made her move on the outside of the pack over the final 100 meters to win the 800m at the Big West Championships.
β’ She is UCI's fourth conference champion in the women's 800m, and first since 1998.
β’ Mercado ran a personal-record and NCAA qualifying time of 2:06.96 in a runner-up showing at the Triton Invitational.
β’ It was the fifth-fastest 800m time in school history.
β’ She also anchored UC Irvine's 4x400 relay that locked up the Anteaters' first Big West Championship team title.
β’ Mercado was a 2023 NCAA Division II Championship qualifier in the 800m at Cal State San Marcos.
JOLIE ROBINSON // Long Jump // Senior // 5-9 // Mission Viejo, Calif. // Major: Education Sciences
β’ Jolie Robinson is a first-time NCAA qualifier in the long jump.
β’ Robinson established a personal-record 6.19m (20-3.75), which ranks fourth in program history, at the UCR Spring Classic.
β’ She had her third-straight podium finish in the heptathlon at the Big West Championships.
β’ Robinson was the runner-up after winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.
β’ She compiled a lifetime-best 5,524 points at the conference meet, which is just 25 points off the school record.
β’ Robinson added a podium finish in the javelin, placing third at the Big West Championships.
β’ Robinson was part of the Anteaters' school-record breaking 4x400 (3:41.03) at the Mt. SAC Relays.
β’ She also ranks among UCI's all-time top-10 in the javelin (3rd) and shot put (10th).
β’ She was tabbed the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week on April 15.
β’ Robinson was the 2023 Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Year, while she earned Field Athlete of the Meet honors in 2023 and 2024.
ZHARIA TAYLOR // High Jump // Junior // 5-8 // Long Beach, Calif. // Major: Urban Studies
β’ Zharia Taylor is in her first year at UC Irvine after transferring from Cerritos College where she was an All-American in the heptathlon.
β’ Taylor cleared a personal-record 1.79m (5-10.5) to win the high jump at the Challenge Cup.
β’ She was also the Big West runner-up with a height of 1.78m (5-10) at the conference championships.
β’ Taylor has finished fifth or better in all four of her high jump competitions with two individual victories this season.
UP NEXT
The top-12 finishers in each event will qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 11-14.
Date:Β Wednesday-Saturday (May 28-31)
Location:Β E.B. Cushing Stadium - College Station, Texas
Meet Info
IRVINE, Calif. -Β UC Irvine women's track & field is sending a program-record 10 student-athletes to the NCAA West First Round in College Station, Texas, May 28-31. All of the women's events will be contested on Thursday and Saturday at E.B. Cushing Stadium on the campus of Texas A&M.
QUICK HITS
β’ UC Irvine won the first Big West Women's Track & Field Championship in school history.
β’ The Anteaters (150.5) edged Cal Poly (149) by 1.5 points for the team title.
β’ Eight 'Eaters took home 12 All-Big West honors in the individual events at the conference meet.
β’ UCI's 4x100 relay also had a runner-up showing in a season-best 44.87.
β’ Jazzmine Davis was named the Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Meet.
β’ UC Irvine is among the top-10 in the high jump (5th) and long jump (9th) in the USTFCCCA Event Rankings.
β’ The 'Eaters also rank among the top-25 in the 100H, 400H, steeple and shot put.
β’ The Anteaters have three NCAA First Round qualifiers in both the high jump and long jump.
NYLA BAKER // Shot Put // Junior // 5-11 // Citrus Heights, Calif. // Major: Criminology, Law & Society
β’ Nyla Baker will be making her NCAA debut in the shot put this weekend.
β’ Baker qualified with a personal-record 15.53m (50-11.5), which she set at the Triton Invitational.
β’ Her mark ranks third in program history.
β’ Baker also reached 15 meters in an individual victory at the Vince O'Boyle Classic (15.48m/50-9.5).
DEANA DAVIS // Hammer Throw // Junior // 5-4 // Temecula, Calif. // Major: Education Sciences
β’ DeAna Davis qualified for her first NCAA regional in the hammer throw.
β’ Her top mark of the season came at the Vince O'Boyle Classic where she hit a personal-best 57.65m (189-1).
β’ Davis' PR moved her up to No. 2 in program history.
β’ Davis was the Big West runner-up at 57.50m (188-7), and had two event wins during the regular season.
JAZZMINE DAVIS // 100H & 400H // Senior // 5-4 // Sherman Oaks, Calif. // Major: Sociology
β’ Jazzmine Davis is a first-time NCAA qualifier in the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles.
β’ Davis was named the Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Meet after three podium finishes.
β’ She was the Anteaters' first conference champion in the 400H since 2012 with a lifetime-best 58.14.
β’ Davis took third in the 100H with a wind-aided PR 13.42 and was a member of the second-place 4x100.
β’ She also scored in the heptathlon and 4x400, accounting for 20 individual points and 11 relay points.
β’ Davis ranks among UCI's all-time top three in the 100H (3rd), 400H (3rd), 4x100 (2nd) and heptathlon (3rd).
β’ In addition, she was part of the 4x4 that broke the school record with a time of 3:41.03 at the Mt. SAC Relays.
β’ Davis was the 2023 3C2A state champion in the heptathlon at Cerritos College.
ESMERAY DEMIRBAS // 400m Hurdles & High Jump // Junior // 5-9 // Surrey, B.C. // Major: Sociology
β’ Esmeray Demirbas qualified for the NCAA West First Round in the 400m hurdles and high jump.
β’ Demirbas clocked a PR 57.81 in the 400H at the Mt. SAC Relays to move up to No. 2 in program history.
β’ She also tied UCI's second-best high jump mark with a PR 1.79m (5-10.5) at the Challenge Cup.
β’ Demirbas placed third in both events at the Big West Championships.
β’ Earlier in the year, she was part of the 4x400 that ran a school-record 3:41.03 at the Mt. SAC Relays.
β’ Demirbas, who won the 3C2A state title in the high jump at Orange Coast College, is in her first year at UCI.
β’ She also played basketball at Westcliff University in Irvine prior to her time at OCC.
MALIA GAY // 800m // Senior // 5-5 // Sacramento, Calif. // Major: Public Health Policy
β’ Malia Gay will be making her NCAA debut this week, qualifying in the 800m.
β’ She ran a personal record and won the event in her first two meets of the season.
β’ At the Triton Invitational, Gay clocked her qualifying time of 2:06.21, which ranks third in school history.
β’ Gay earned her third career 800m All-Big West honor with a second-straight runner-up finish at the conference championships.
β’ She was also the Big West runner-up in the 1500m where she ranks fifth all-time at UCI with a PR 4:19.74.
REYNA JOHNSON // Long Jump // Senior // 5-6 // Sacramento, Calif. // Major: SociologyΒ
β’ Reyna Johnson will be making her second NCAA appearance in the long jump (2023, 2025).
β’ She is seeded 18th in the field with a wind-aided personal-record 6.34m (20-9.75).
β’ Johnson surpassed the six-meter mark in five of her six competitions this season.
β’ She was named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week on April 1.
β’ She was also part of the Big West runner-up 4x100 relay that ran the second-fastest time in school history (44.87).
β’ Johnson scored as a conference finalist in the 100H (4th) where she clocked a wind-aided PR 13.57.
β’ Reyna's younger brother, Justin, is an NCAA qualifier in the 200m as a freshman on the UCI men's team.
KAILAH MCKENZIE // Long Jump & High Jump // Sophomore // 5-5 // Moreno Valley, Calif. // Major: Psychological Science
β’ Kailah McKenzie will be making her second-straight trip to the NCAA West First Round in the high jump and first in the long jump.
β’ McKenzie won the long jump at the Challenge Cup with a personal-record 6.33m (20-9.25).
β’ She also took first in the high jump with a season-best 1.76m (5-9.25) at the Beach Opener.
β’ McKenzie ranks second in school history in the long jump and fifth in the high jump.
β’ She earned her second and third career Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week awards earlier this season.
β’ McKenzie was the 2024 Big West Women's Freshman of the Year.
LUZ MERCADO // 800m // Graduate Student // 5-6 // Chula Vista, Calif. // Major: Business Data & Analytics
β’ Luz Mercado qualified for the NCAA West First Round in her first year as an Anteater.
β’ Mercado made her move on the outside of the pack over the final 100 meters to win the 800m at the Big West Championships.
β’ She is UCI's fourth conference champion in the women's 800m, and first since 1998.
β’ Mercado ran a personal-record and NCAA qualifying time of 2:06.96 in a runner-up showing at the Triton Invitational.
β’ It was the fifth-fastest 800m time in school history.
β’ She also anchored UC Irvine's 4x400 relay that locked up the Anteaters' first Big West Championship team title.
β’ Mercado was a 2023 NCAA Division II Championship qualifier in the 800m at Cal State San Marcos.
JOLIE ROBINSON // Long Jump // Senior // 5-9 // Mission Viejo, Calif. // Major: Education Sciences
β’ Jolie Robinson is a first-time NCAA qualifier in the long jump.
β’ Robinson established a personal-record 6.19m (20-3.75), which ranks fourth in program history, at the UCR Spring Classic.
β’ She had her third-straight podium finish in the heptathlon at the Big West Championships.
β’ Robinson was the runner-up after winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.
β’ She compiled a lifetime-best 5,524 points at the conference meet, which is just 25 points off the school record.
β’ Robinson added a podium finish in the javelin, placing third at the Big West Championships.
β’ Robinson was part of the Anteaters' school-record breaking 4x400 (3:41.03) at the Mt. SAC Relays.
β’ She also ranks among UCI's all-time top-10 in the javelin (3rd) and shot put (10th).
β’ She was tabbed the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week on April 15.
β’ Robinson was the 2023 Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Year, while she earned Field Athlete of the Meet honors in 2023 and 2024.
ZHARIA TAYLOR // High Jump // Junior // 5-8 // Long Beach, Calif. // Major: Urban Studies
β’ Zharia Taylor is in her first year at UC Irvine after transferring from Cerritos College where she was an All-American in the heptathlon.
β’ Taylor cleared a personal-record 1.79m (5-10.5) to win the high jump at the Challenge Cup.
β’ She was also the Big West runner-up with a height of 1.78m (5-10) at the conference championships.
β’ Taylor has finished fifth or better in all four of her high jump competitions with two individual victories this season.
UP NEXT
The top-12 finishers in each event will qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 11-14.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ 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
Heptathlon/High Jump
/ Women's Track & FieldAnteater Spotlights | Ep. 6 | Zharia Taylor
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