at MPSF Indoor Track & Field Championships
Dates: Sunday-Monday (March 1-2)
Location: Reno-Sparks Convention Center - Reno, Nev.
Championship Central

IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine women's indoor track & field will make their third and final trip to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center this season for the MPSF Championships, March 1-2. The two-day meet starts with the pentathlon Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Monday's action gets underway with the 60m hurdles at 9 a.m. Twenty-seven Anteaters are entered in 16 events.

RECORD SETTERS
The Anteaters broke an indoor school record in each of their four meets this year. In UCI's last outing at the Battle Born Classic on Feb. 14, Aoife Hernon clocked a 400m time of 54.23 to top a six-year-old program-best of 54.81. She then joined forces with Jazzmine Davis, Halle Sutherland, and Joy Anderson to set a new standard in the 4x400 at 3:42.90. It was the second time this season the 'Eaters broke the 4x400 record as Davis, Hernon, Esmeray Demirbas, and Gabrielle Hawkins initially did it at the season-opening Spokane Indoor Challenge (Jan. 17). At the Wolf Pack Classic, Halle Sutherland broke UC Irvine's 200m record with a PR 24.19, while Emma Hadley now sits first in program history in the mile after crossing the finish line in 4:42.71 at the UW Invitational on Jan. 31.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Halle Sutherland was named the MPSF Athlete of the Week following her record-breaking performance at the Wolf Pack Classic on Feb. 6. The junior took down an eight-year-old school record in the 200m, running a personal-best 24.19 to beat Olympian Persis William-Mensah's previous standard of 24.26. Sutherland finished seventh out of 79 in what was her first 200m race of the season. This was her first career weekly honor.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT
In her first season as an Anteater, graduate transfer Aoife Hernon has set a school record in the 400m and 4x400 relay, while ranking fourth in program history in the 200m. At the Battle Born Classic in Reno two weeks ago, Hernon broke Zani Meaders' 400m record from 2020 with a personal-best 54.23. She came back later in the day to run a split of 54.08 to propel the 'Eaters to a school-record 3:42.90 in the 4x400 relay. Hernon and her teammates topped the previous best of 3:45.77, which they established on Jan. 17. Hernon placed among the top-three in each of her two 400m races this year with an individual victory at the Spokane Indoor Challenge. In addition, Hernon clocked UCI's fourth-fastest 200m (24.47) at the Wolf Pack Classic. 

VAULTING TO THE TOP
All three of the Anteaters' pole vaulters have recorded a top-five mark in program history this year. Three weeks ago in Reno, junior Alana Sugue, who missed the 2025 campaign with an injury, cleared a personal-record 3.86 meters (12-8) to pass teammate Jessie Condliff for No. 2 in the record book. Condliff, a true freshman, reached 3.82m (12-6.25) in her collegiate debut at the Spokane Indoor Challenge to rank third. Junior college transfer Kaylee Tan also recorded a best of 3.71m (12-2) at the Wolf Pack Classic to take sole possession of fifth among UCI's all-time leaders.

RAISING THE BAR
Five current 'Eaters occupy a spot among UC Irvine's all-time top-10 high jumpers. Zharia Taylor, who earned outdoor All-America honors in the high jump last year, owns the No. 2 mark indoors at UCI with a personal-record 1.79 meters (5-10.5) that she set in 2025. Esmeray Demirbas and Kailah McKenzie also established PRs of 1.73m (5-8) last season to tie for fifth. Joy Anderson joined the group at No. 6 after clearing 1.70m (5-7) in her collegiate debut at the Spokane Indoor Challenge before passing Demirbas and McKenzie for fourth with a season-best 1.74m (5-8.5) at the Battle Born Classic. Jolie Robinson rounds out the contingent at No. 10 (1.63m/5-4.25).

THROWING IT OUT THERE
At the Spokane Indoor Challenge, DeAna Davis, Nyla Baker, and Pinkie Schnayer all improved on their lifetime bests that already had them among UC Irvine's top-10 throwers. Baker won the shot put with a toss of 14.62m (47-11.75), improving on her No. 4 mark in program history. Schnayer also hit a PR 13.98m (45-10.5) to climb one spot into a tie for sixth. In the weight throw, Davis launched a lifetime-best 16.47m (54-0.5) to claim runner-up honors and move up to No. 5 among the Anteaters' all-time leaders. Two weeks ago, Davis improved her PR with a toss of 17.29m (56-8.75) to rank fourth at UCI. She is one of only five 'Eaters to reach the 17-meter mark in program history.

DISTANCE DUO
Juniors Emma Hadley and Kaia Schmidt have put up top times in the 800m and mile this season. At the UW Invitational, Hadley ran a school-record 4:42.71 in the mile, while Schmidt wasn't far behind at 4:51.70 to rank second in program history. Hadley (2:10.80) and Schmidt (2:11.59) are also second and third, respectively, in the 800m. At the MPSF Championships, Hadley is entered in the mile and Schmidt is scheduled to run the 800m.
 
UP NEXT 
Qualifying individuals and relays will head to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, March 13-14. The Anteaters are also set to begin the outdoor season at the Beach Opener in Long Beach, March 6-7.