RENO, Nev. – The UC Irvine women's indoor track & field team got out to a strong start at the Battle Born Classic Friday at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
 
DeAna Davis opened the meet with a fifth-place finish in the weight throw. Davis established a personal-record 17.29 meters (56-8.75) on her third attempt. She climbed one spot to No. 4 in program history.
 
On the track, Samantha Bartz led the way in the 60m dash. After advancing out of the preliminary round, Bartz ran a personal-record 7.48 (7.50aa) to place eighth in the semifinals. That earned her a spot in the final where she improved her PR with a time of 7.44 seconds (7.46aa) to take fourth and move up to No. 2 among UCI's all-time leaders.
 
Halle Sutherland also clocked a season-best 7.49 (7.51aa) in the semis.
 
Jazzmine Davis and Esmeray Demirbas both qualified for the 60m hurdles final where they were fifth and sixth, respectively. Demirbas saw an improvement in each round, finishing with a lifetime-best 8.55 (8.57aa). That mark is tied for fifth in school history. Davis was consistent throughout her three races, running a season-best 8.54 (8.56aa) in the prelims, 8.56 (8.58aa) in the semis, and 8.55 (8.57aa) in the final.
 
Kailah McKenzie and Jolie Robinson placed among the top-16 in the 60H prelims to move onto the semifinal round. McKenzie notched a season-best 8.73 (8.75aa), while Robinson wasn't far behind at 8.88 seconds (8.90aa).

Robinson and McKenzie were also the Anteaters' top performers in the long jump. Robinson, who was competing in the long jump for the first time this season, recorded a distance of 5.88m (19-3.5) to come in ninth. McKenzie added a season-best 5.75m (18-10.5)
 
Liana Lee took sixth in the mile in a season-best 5:04.28.
 
Alana Sugue and Jessie Condliff led the way in the pole vault as both cleared 3.79m (12-5.25).
 
The 'Eaters will be back in action tomorrow for the second and final day of the Battle Born Classic in Reno.