Friday, May 15
Long Beach, CA
12:00 PM
UC Irvine
at
Big West Championships
Men's Track & Field Heads to Long Beach for Big West Championships
May 13, 2026 | Men's Track & Field
Big West Championships
Date: Friday-Saturday (May 15-16)
Location: Jack Rose Track - Long Beach, Calif.
Championship Central
IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine men's track & field makes the short trip to Long Beach for the 2026 Big West Championships at Jack Rose Track, May 15-16.
BIG WEST REWIND
The Anteaters' roster features 18 letterwinners, including eight conference scorers, from last year's team that finished fifth at the Big West Championships. UCI has hoisted the team trophy twice in program history, winning the conference championship in 1978 and 1979.
LAST TIME OUT
UCI was last in action two weeks ago when it closed out the regular season with a strong outing at the Steve Scott Invitational at Anteater Stadium, May 1-2. Joshua Schuld kicked off action on the track, winning the steeplechase in a season-best 8:56.29. It was his first sub-nine-minute race of the year. The quartet of Brandon Burns, Justin Johnson, Logan Lyght, and Brendan Clark, who broke the 4x100 school record on March 28, won the event in 40.07 seconds. Johnson was the top collegiate finisher and second overall in a 100m field of 54. He ran a personal-record 10.40, moving up six spots to No. 2 in school history. Clark cracked UC Irvine's top-10 in the 400m as he ran a PR 47.14 which ranks ninth. Burns added a wind-aided personal-best 21.12 to place third out of 50 in the 200m. In the field events, Duke Pascoe established a lifetime-best 59.02 meters (193-7) in the hammer throw, improving on his No. 6 mark in program history. Joe Duggan also unleashed a personal-best 56.62m (185-9) in the discus. That mark ranks fifth in the Anteater record books. Kenechukwu Okonkwo registered a season-best 15.65m (51-4.25) to claim runner-up honors in the triple jump.
RECORD BREAKERS
Brandon Burns, Justin Johnson, Logan Lyght, and Brendan Clark combined to run the first sub-40 second 4x100 relay in program history. The quartet clocked in at 39.84 at the Vince O'Boyle Classic to take down the 45-year-old school-record of 40.08. The Anteaters' time ranks third in the Big West and 41st in the West Region this season.
OUT OF THE BLOCKS
Sophomore Justin Johnson owns the No. 2 time in school history in both the 100m and 200m. He established a 100m PR twice this season, most recently at the Steve Scott Invitational where he ran 10.40 to jump six spots in the record books. As a true freshman last year, Johnson was an NCAA West First Round qualifier and Big West scorer in the 200m. He set a personal-record 20.69 at the regional meet. At the Triton Invitational on April 4, senior Brandon Burns clocked a wind-legal 100m personal-record 10.49 to rank third in program history. Junior transfer Brendan Clark also leads the 'Eaters in the 400m where he registered a lifetime-best and cracked UC Irvine's top-10 with a time of 47.14 at the Steve Scott Invite.
INSTANT IMPACT
In addition to contributing to the school-record 4x100 relay, junior transfer Logan Lyght, who spent the last two seasons at Houston, has made an immediate impact in the 110m hurdles where he has three event wins. In his UC Irvine debut on March 7, Lyght notched his first individual victory in a wind-legal personal-record 13.96 to rank fifth in program history. He was named the Big West Men's Track Athlete of the Week for his effort. Despite running into a slight headwind at the Vince O'Boyle Classic (March 28), Lyght picked up his second 110H win with a meet-record 13.99. He also finished first at the Triton Invitational on April 4. The Orange, California, native currently ranks second in the Big West and 43rd in the West Region.
SETTING THE STANDARD
Newcomers Darrin Campbell, Griffin Cole, Joe Duggan, and Duke Pascoe have all made their way into the program's top-10 in the throws. Campbell hit a season-best 64.24 meters (210-9) in the javelin at the Beach Opener to rank fourth in school history (since 1986). Cole joined Campbell in the javelin top-10 with a season-best 61.17m (200-8) on March 12. Pascoe has registered four personal records in the hammer this year, with the last coming at the Steve Scott Invitational where he reached 59.02m (193-7) to sit at No. 6 among UCI's leaders. Duggan cracked the all-time charts in the discus at the Triton Invitational (54.15m/177-8), and has since risen to No. 5 with a personal-best 56.62m (185-9). He also entered the top-10 in the shot put with a PR 17.53m (57-6.25) at the Beach Invitational.
MAKING THE LEAP
Senior Kenechukwu Okonkwo is a two-time NCAA West First Round qualifier in the triple jump, and claimed runner-up honors at the Big West Championships last year. The Colton, California, native ranks second in school history with a lifetime-best 15.83 meters (51-11.25). Two weeks ago at the Steve Scott Invitational, Okonkwo registered a season-best 15.65m (51-4.25), which is third in the Big West and 28th in the West Region. At the Vince O'Boyle Classic, freshman Colin Green joined Okonkwo among UCI's top-10, coming in at No. 8 with a PR 14.92m (48-11.5). Senior Jake Reed, who was a Big West scorer in the pole vault last year, cleared a lifetime-best 4.90m (16-0.75) at the Triton Invitational. In the high jump, junior Alan Vuong was also a 2025 conference scorer with a personal-best 2.06m (6-9).
GOING THE DISTANCE
Graduate student Joshua Schuld leads the distance crew in the steeplechase where he owns a season-best 8:56.29. Last year, Schuld was a Big West scorer and NCAA West First Round qualifier with a personal-record 8:50.75, which ranks fifth in school history. Angel Cordero, who has not competed in 2026, was named the 2025 Big West Freshman of the Year after claiming runner-up honors at the conference meet in the 800m. He ran a personal-record 1:48.10 to rank fourth in program history.
UP NEXT
Qualifying individuals and relays will make their way to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the NCAA West First Round, May 27-30.
Date: Friday-Saturday (May 15-16)
Location: Jack Rose Track - Long Beach, Calif.
Championship Central
IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine men's track & field makes the short trip to Long Beach for the 2026 Big West Championships at Jack Rose Track, May 15-16.
BIG WEST REWIND
The Anteaters' roster features 18 letterwinners, including eight conference scorers, from last year's team that finished fifth at the Big West Championships. UCI has hoisted the team trophy twice in program history, winning the conference championship in 1978 and 1979.
LAST TIME OUT
UCI was last in action two weeks ago when it closed out the regular season with a strong outing at the Steve Scott Invitational at Anteater Stadium, May 1-2. Joshua Schuld kicked off action on the track, winning the steeplechase in a season-best 8:56.29. It was his first sub-nine-minute race of the year. The quartet of Brandon Burns, Justin Johnson, Logan Lyght, and Brendan Clark, who broke the 4x100 school record on March 28, won the event in 40.07 seconds. Johnson was the top collegiate finisher and second overall in a 100m field of 54. He ran a personal-record 10.40, moving up six spots to No. 2 in school history. Clark cracked UC Irvine's top-10 in the 400m as he ran a PR 47.14 which ranks ninth. Burns added a wind-aided personal-best 21.12 to place third out of 50 in the 200m. In the field events, Duke Pascoe established a lifetime-best 59.02 meters (193-7) in the hammer throw, improving on his No. 6 mark in program history. Joe Duggan also unleashed a personal-best 56.62m (185-9) in the discus. That mark ranks fifth in the Anteater record books. Kenechukwu Okonkwo registered a season-best 15.65m (51-4.25) to claim runner-up honors in the triple jump.
RECORD BREAKERS
Brandon Burns, Justin Johnson, Logan Lyght, and Brendan Clark combined to run the first sub-40 second 4x100 relay in program history. The quartet clocked in at 39.84 at the Vince O'Boyle Classic to take down the 45-year-old school-record of 40.08. The Anteaters' time ranks third in the Big West and 41st in the West Region this season.
OUT OF THE BLOCKS
Sophomore Justin Johnson owns the No. 2 time in school history in both the 100m and 200m. He established a 100m PR twice this season, most recently at the Steve Scott Invitational where he ran 10.40 to jump six spots in the record books. As a true freshman last year, Johnson was an NCAA West First Round qualifier and Big West scorer in the 200m. He set a personal-record 20.69 at the regional meet. At the Triton Invitational on April 4, senior Brandon Burns clocked a wind-legal 100m personal-record 10.49 to rank third in program history. Junior transfer Brendan Clark also leads the 'Eaters in the 400m where he registered a lifetime-best and cracked UC Irvine's top-10 with a time of 47.14 at the Steve Scott Invite.
INSTANT IMPACT
In addition to contributing to the school-record 4x100 relay, junior transfer Logan Lyght, who spent the last two seasons at Houston, has made an immediate impact in the 110m hurdles where he has three event wins. In his UC Irvine debut on March 7, Lyght notched his first individual victory in a wind-legal personal-record 13.96 to rank fifth in program history. He was named the Big West Men's Track Athlete of the Week for his effort. Despite running into a slight headwind at the Vince O'Boyle Classic (March 28), Lyght picked up his second 110H win with a meet-record 13.99. He also finished first at the Triton Invitational on April 4. The Orange, California, native currently ranks second in the Big West and 43rd in the West Region.
SETTING THE STANDARD
Newcomers Darrin Campbell, Griffin Cole, Joe Duggan, and Duke Pascoe have all made their way into the program's top-10 in the throws. Campbell hit a season-best 64.24 meters (210-9) in the javelin at the Beach Opener to rank fourth in school history (since 1986). Cole joined Campbell in the javelin top-10 with a season-best 61.17m (200-8) on March 12. Pascoe has registered four personal records in the hammer this year, with the last coming at the Steve Scott Invitational where he reached 59.02m (193-7) to sit at No. 6 among UCI's leaders. Duggan cracked the all-time charts in the discus at the Triton Invitational (54.15m/177-8), and has since risen to No. 5 with a personal-best 56.62m (185-9). He also entered the top-10 in the shot put with a PR 17.53m (57-6.25) at the Beach Invitational.
MAKING THE LEAP
Senior Kenechukwu Okonkwo is a two-time NCAA West First Round qualifier in the triple jump, and claimed runner-up honors at the Big West Championships last year. The Colton, California, native ranks second in school history with a lifetime-best 15.83 meters (51-11.25). Two weeks ago at the Steve Scott Invitational, Okonkwo registered a season-best 15.65m (51-4.25), which is third in the Big West and 28th in the West Region. At the Vince O'Boyle Classic, freshman Colin Green joined Okonkwo among UCI's top-10, coming in at No. 8 with a PR 14.92m (48-11.5). Senior Jake Reed, who was a Big West scorer in the pole vault last year, cleared a lifetime-best 4.90m (16-0.75) at the Triton Invitational. In the high jump, junior Alan Vuong was also a 2025 conference scorer with a personal-best 2.06m (6-9).
GOING THE DISTANCE
Graduate student Joshua Schuld leads the distance crew in the steeplechase where he owns a season-best 8:56.29. Last year, Schuld was a Big West scorer and NCAA West First Round qualifier with a personal-record 8:50.75, which ranks fifth in school history. Angel Cordero, who has not competed in 2026, was named the 2025 Big West Freshman of the Year after claiming runner-up honors at the conference meet in the 800m. He ran a personal-record 1:48.10 to rank fourth in program history.
UP NEXT
Qualifying individuals and relays will make their way to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the NCAA West First Round, May 27-30.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Javelin
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints/Javelin
/ Men's Track & Field
Javelin
/ Men's Track & Field
Middle Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & FieldAnteater Spotlights | Ep. 6 | Zharia Taylor
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