California Irvine Athletics

The UC Irvine men's track & field team is coming off a strong 2025 campaign in which it produced one All-American, seven NCAA West First Round qualifiers, four all-conference performers, and boasted the Big West Freshman of the Year. The Anteaters finished fifth at the Big West Championships for the second-straight season.
 
"Our men's team is on the rise with some standout individuals so we are excited to see what they can do this outdoor season," head coach Jeff Perkins said.
 
The 'Eaters are set to start the outdoor season at the Beach Opener in Long Beach, March 6-7. They have two home meets on the schedule with the Vince O'Boyle Track & Field Classic (March 27-28), and the Steve Scott Invitational (May 1-2). Anteater Stadium will also serve as host to the Big West Multi-Event Championships, May 8-9.
 
Below is a breakdown of each event group as UCI prepares for its season opener next weekend.
 
 
SPRINTS
Sophomore Justin Johnson will be looking to build off an impressive freshman campaign in which he was an NCAA West First Round qualifier and Big West scorer in the 200m. Johnson clocked a personal-record 20.69 at the regional meet to rank second in school history, while he also sits at No. 7 in the 100m (10.56). Transfer Brendan Clark is expected to make an immediate impact in the 400m where he was a 3C2A State Championship qualifier and conference runner-up at Orange Coast College.
 
HURDLES
In the hurdles, senior AJ Taylor is UCI's top returner as a Big West scorer in the 110H. Junior Logan Lyght also joins the Anteaters after spending two seasons at the University of Houston. Lyght makes his way back to Orange County following a standout prep career at Mater Dei High School where he was a two-time CIF-Southern Section champion in the 110H. He went on to claim runner-up honors at the 2023 CIF State Championships.
 
JUMPS
Leading the jumps crew is Kenechukwu Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a two-time NCAA West First Round qualifier in the triple jump. Last year, he was also the Big West runner-up. The Colton, California, native enters his senior campaign ranked second in school history with a personal-record 15.83 meters (51-11.25). In the high jump, junior Alan Vuong is coming off a breakout season in which he was a conference scorer with a fourth-place showing at the Big West Championships where he cleared a lifetime-best 2.06m (6-9). Senior Jake Reed also scored in the pole vault and registered a collegiate PR 4.78m (15-8.25) last year.
 
DISTANCE
Leading the distance group is 2025 Big West Freshman of the Year Angel Cordero. In his first collegiate season, Cordero was an NCAA West First Round qualifier and conference runner-up in the 800m. He ran a personal-record 1:48.10 at the Big West Championships to rank fourth in program history. Cordero won the first three 800m races of his UCI career. Graduate student Joshua Schuld also brings veteran leadership in his final collegiate season on the track. Schuld made a statement in the steeplechase a year ago, qualifying for the NCAA West First Round and finishing fourth at the conference meet where he ran a PR 8:50.75 to sit at No. 5 on UC Irvine's all-time charts. Schuld picked up two individual victories in the event during the regular season.
 
THROWS
UC Irvine graduated two of its school record holders and Big West champions in Jacob Hawkins (discus) and Liam Miksic (javelin), who also earned All-America honors last year. This season, the Anteaters return a pair of conference qualifiers in Chimobi Onye and Jake Troxell, while adding four newcomers. Freshman Griffin Cole will look to fill the shoes of Miksic as he was a U18 Canadian national champion in the javelin. The Vancouver native owns a personal-record 62.05 meters (203-7). Transfers Darrin Campbell (javelin), Joe Duggan (shot put/discus), and Duke Pascoe (hammer) round out the incoming group.