Thursday, May 28
Fayetteville, AR
7:30 AM PT
UC Irvine
vs
NCAA West First Round
Women's Track & Field Travels to Arkansas for NCAA West First Round
May 26, 2026 | Women's Track & Field
NCAA West First Round
Date:Β Thursday, May 28 & Saturday, May 30
Location:Β John McDonnell Field - Fayetteville, Ark.
Meet Information
IRVINE, Calif. -Β UC Irvine women's track & field is sending a program-record 12 student-athletes to the NCAA West First Round in Fayetteville, Arkansas, May 27-30. All the women's events will be contested on Thursday and Saturday at John McDonnell Field on the campus of the University of Arkansas.
QUICK HITS
β’ UC Irvine defended its Big West Championship team title with a program-record 187.5 points.
β’ The Anteaters led wire-to-wire and finished with a 61.5-point margin over second-place Cal State Fullerton.
β’ Fourteen 'Eaters took home 15 All-Big West honors in the individual events at the conference meet.
β’ UCI's 4x100 relay also won gold, while the 4x400 relay took home bronze.
β’ UC Irvine had the Big West's first podium sweep in the heptathlon since 2015.
β’ This is the second-straight year the Anteaters have 10+ individuals heading to the NCAA West First Round.
β’ Joy Anderson and Jolie Robinson are also 2026 NCAA Championship qualifiers in the heptathlon.
NYLA BAKER // Shot Put & Discus // Senior // 5-11 // Citrus Heights, Calif. // Major: Criminology
β’ Nyla Baker will be making her second NCAA appearance in the shot put and first in the discus.
β’ Baker won the shot put and finished third in the discus at the Big West Championships.
β’ She established a personal-record 55.01m (180-5) in the discus at the conference meet.
β’ Baker also registered a PR 15.78m (51-9.25) in a shot put victory at the Challenge Cup on April 10.
β’ She ranks second in program history in the discus and third in the shot put.
β’ On the year, Baker has two event wins in the discus and three in the shot put.
SAMANTHA BARTZ // 100m & 4x100 Relay // Senior // 5-5 // Corona, Calif. // Major: Psychology
β’ Samantha Bartz will be making her NCAA debut, qualifying in the 100m and 4x100 relay.
β’ She broke the 100m school record twice this year, initially running a program-best 11.43 on April 16.
β’ Bartz then saw a .03 second improvement in the Big West prelims, crossing the finish line in 11.40.
β’ She secured bronze in the 100m and was part of the first-place 4x100 relay at the Big West Championships.
β’ Bartz also ranks fourth in program history in the 200m (23.87) and second in the 4x100 (44.60).
DEANA DAVIS // Hammer Throw // Senior // 5-4 // Temecula, Calif. // Major: Education Sciences
β’ DeAna Davis qualified for her second NCAA regional in the hammer throw.
β’ Her top mark of the season came at the Challenge Cup where she had a PR 58.67m (192-6).
β’ Davis ranks second in school history.
β’ She had her second-straight Big West podium finish, placing third at the conference championships.
JAZZMINE DAVIS // 100H & 4x100 Relay // Senior // 5-4 // Sherman Oaks, Calif. // Major: Sociology
β’ Jazzmine Davis is making her second NCAA appearance in the 100m hurdles and first in the 4x100.
β’ Davis was part of UCI's Big West champion 4x100 relay and took second in the 100H (13.31).
β’ She was also third in the heptathlon and advanced to the conference final in the 400H.
β’ Davis ranks second in school history in the 100H with a wind-legal PR 13.36.
β’ In addition, she is second in the 4x100 (44.60), fourth in the heptathlon, and tied for ninth in the long jump.
ESMERAY DEMIRBAS // 400m Hurdles // Senior // 5-9 // Surrey, B.C., Canada // Major: Sociology
β’ Esmeray Demirbas is headed to the NCAA West First Round in the 400m hurdles for the second year in a row.
β’ Demirbas qualified with a season-best 58.17.
β’ She ranks second in school history with a personal-record 57.81 that she established in 2025.
β’ Demirbas claimed runner-up honors in the 400H at the Big West Championships.
β’ She had three event wins during the regular season.
β’ Demirbas was part of UCI's 4x400 relay team that ran a school-record 3:39.01 at the Mt. SAC Relays.
EMMA HADLEY // 1500m // Junior // 5-5 // Anaheim Hills, Calif. // Major: Public Health Policy
β’ Emma Hadley will be making her NCAA debut in her first season at UC Irvine.
β’ Hadley qualified in the 1500m with a personal-record 4:17.97, which she established in an individual victory at the Steve Scott Invitational.
β’ Her time ranks fourth in program history.
β’ Two weeks ago, Hadley became UC Irvine's first women's 1500m Big West champion since 2006.
β’ Hadley transferred to UCI after two seasons at the University of Colorado.
KAILAH MCKENZIE // Long Jump // Junior // 5-6 // Sacramento, Calif. // Major: SociologyΒ
β’ Kailah McKenzie is making her third NCAA West First Round appearance, and second in the long jump (2025, 2026).
β’ McKenzie was also a high jump qualifier in 2024 and 2025.
β’ This year, McKenzie won two of her three long jump competitions.
β’ She finished first at the Vince O'Boyle Classic and at the Beach Invitational where she registered a season-best 6.21m (20-4.5).
β’ McKenzie scored in the event at the Big West Championships, placing fifth overall at 6.03m (19-9.5).
β’ McKenzie, who was the 2024 Big West Women's Freshman of the Year, ranks second in school history with a lifetime-best 6.33m (20-9.25).
GISELLE RODRIGUEZ // Javelin // Junior // 5-10 // Fall River Mills, Calif. // Major: Psychology
β’ Giselle Rodriguez qualified for the NCAA regional meet in the javelin in her first year as an Anteater.
β’ Rodriguez had two individual victories during the regular season and was the runner-up at the Big West Championships.
β’ She established a personal-record 48.38m (158-8) at the Vince O'Boyle Classic.
β’ That mark ranks second in program history (since 1999).
β’ Rodriguez transferred to UC Irvine from Butte College where she was a member of both the women's basketball and track & field teams.
KAIA SCHMIDT // Steeplechase // Junior // 5-6 // West Linn, Ore. // Major: Pharmaceutical Sciences
β’ Kaia Schmidt qualified for her first NCAA West First Round in the steeplechase.
β’ Schmidt won all three of her steeple races this year, including at the Big West Championships two weeks ago.
β’ She broke the school record in an individual victory at the Triton Invitational where she crossed the finish line in 10:16.88.
β’ Schmidt was named the Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Week for that effort.
β’ She was also an all-conference performer in cross country this past fall, finishing fourth at the 2025 Big West Championships.
Β
HALLE SUTHERLAND // 200m & 4x100 Relay // Junior // 5-5 // Lake Forest, Calif. // Major: Public Health Science
β’ Halle Sutherland will be making her first NCAA appearance, qualifying for the regional meet in the 200m and 4x100 relay.
β’ Sutherland is the 2026 Big West champion in both events.
β’ She finished ahead of the pack in the 200m with a wind-aided personal-record 23.24.
β’ Her wind-legal PR of 23.69, which she set last year, ranks third in program history.
β’ Sutherland was part of the 4x100 relay that clocked a season-best 44.60, which was .09 seconds off the school record.
β’ She also ranks third among UCI's 100m leaders with a lifetime-best 11.53 that she ran at the conference meet.
ZHARIA TAYLOR // High Jump // Senior // 5-8 // Long Beach, Calif. // Major: Urban Studies
β’ Zharia Taylor is making a return trip to the NCAA West First Round in the high jump.
β’ In 2025, she cleared a personal-record 1.81m (5-11.25) to tie for ninth and punch her ticket to the NCAA Championships.
β’ She went on to earn second-team All-America honors after placing 16th in Eugene.
β’ This year, Taylor took home the high jump title at the Big West Championships with a season-best 1.78m (5-10).
β’ She also scored in the heptathlon, placing fourth overall with a PR 5,384 points.
β’ Taylor ranks second in school history in the high jump and fifth in the heptathlon.
CATALINA TERAN // 4x100 Relay // Junior // 5-6 // Angelus Oaks, Calif. // Major: Sociology
β’ Catalina Teran is the anchor of UC Irvine's 4x100 relay that qualified for the NCAA West First Round.
β’ She helped the quartet to three victories on the year, including at the Big West Championships.
β’ They combined for a season-best 44.60 in a win at the Steve Scott Invitational.
β’ Teran has made an immediate impact in her first year at UCI as she was also part of the school-record 4x400 relay (3:39.01).
β’ In addition, she ranks among the top-10 in program history in the 100m (5th), 200m (2nd), and 400m (7th).
β’ Teran transferred to UC Irvine from Riverside City College.
UP NEXT
The top-12 finishers in each event will qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 10-13. Joy Anderson and Jolie Robinson have already punched their ticket in the heptathlon where they rank among the top-24 in the nation.
Date:Β Thursday, May 28 & Saturday, May 30
Location:Β John McDonnell Field - Fayetteville, Ark.
Meet Information
IRVINE, Calif. -Β UC Irvine women's track & field is sending a program-record 12 student-athletes to the NCAA West First Round in Fayetteville, Arkansas, May 27-30. All the women's events will be contested on Thursday and Saturday at John McDonnell Field on the campus of the University of Arkansas.
QUICK HITS
β’ UC Irvine defended its Big West Championship team title with a program-record 187.5 points.
β’ The Anteaters led wire-to-wire and finished with a 61.5-point margin over second-place Cal State Fullerton.
β’ Fourteen 'Eaters took home 15 All-Big West honors in the individual events at the conference meet.
β’ UCI's 4x100 relay also won gold, while the 4x400 relay took home bronze.
β’ UC Irvine had the Big West's first podium sweep in the heptathlon since 2015.
β’ This is the second-straight year the Anteaters have 10+ individuals heading to the NCAA West First Round.
β’ Joy Anderson and Jolie Robinson are also 2026 NCAA Championship qualifiers in the heptathlon.
NYLA BAKER // Shot Put & Discus // Senior // 5-11 // Citrus Heights, Calif. // Major: Criminology
β’ Nyla Baker will be making her second NCAA appearance in the shot put and first in the discus.
β’ Baker won the shot put and finished third in the discus at the Big West Championships.
β’ She established a personal-record 55.01m (180-5) in the discus at the conference meet.
β’ Baker also registered a PR 15.78m (51-9.25) in a shot put victory at the Challenge Cup on April 10.
β’ She ranks second in program history in the discus and third in the shot put.
β’ On the year, Baker has two event wins in the discus and three in the shot put.
SAMANTHA BARTZ // 100m & 4x100 Relay // Senior // 5-5 // Corona, Calif. // Major: Psychology
β’ Samantha Bartz will be making her NCAA debut, qualifying in the 100m and 4x100 relay.
β’ She broke the 100m school record twice this year, initially running a program-best 11.43 on April 16.
β’ Bartz then saw a .03 second improvement in the Big West prelims, crossing the finish line in 11.40.
β’ She secured bronze in the 100m and was part of the first-place 4x100 relay at the Big West Championships.
β’ Bartz also ranks fourth in program history in the 200m (23.87) and second in the 4x100 (44.60).
DEANA DAVIS // Hammer Throw // Senior // 5-4 // Temecula, Calif. // Major: Education Sciences
β’ DeAna Davis qualified for her second NCAA regional in the hammer throw.
β’ Her top mark of the season came at the Challenge Cup where she had a PR 58.67m (192-6).
β’ Davis ranks second in school history.
β’ She had her second-straight Big West podium finish, placing third at the conference championships.
JAZZMINE DAVIS // 100H & 4x100 Relay // Senior // 5-4 // Sherman Oaks, Calif. // Major: Sociology
β’ Jazzmine Davis is making her second NCAA appearance in the 100m hurdles and first in the 4x100.
β’ Davis was part of UCI's Big West champion 4x100 relay and took second in the 100H (13.31).
β’ She was also third in the heptathlon and advanced to the conference final in the 400H.
β’ Davis ranks second in school history in the 100H with a wind-legal PR 13.36.
β’ In addition, she is second in the 4x100 (44.60), fourth in the heptathlon, and tied for ninth in the long jump.
ESMERAY DEMIRBAS // 400m Hurdles // Senior // 5-9 // Surrey, B.C., Canada // Major: Sociology
β’ Esmeray Demirbas is headed to the NCAA West First Round in the 400m hurdles for the second year in a row.
β’ Demirbas qualified with a season-best 58.17.
β’ She ranks second in school history with a personal-record 57.81 that she established in 2025.
β’ Demirbas claimed runner-up honors in the 400H at the Big West Championships.
β’ She had three event wins during the regular season.
β’ Demirbas was part of UCI's 4x400 relay team that ran a school-record 3:39.01 at the Mt. SAC Relays.
EMMA HADLEY // 1500m // Junior // 5-5 // Anaheim Hills, Calif. // Major: Public Health Policy
β’ Emma Hadley will be making her NCAA debut in her first season at UC Irvine.
β’ Hadley qualified in the 1500m with a personal-record 4:17.97, which she established in an individual victory at the Steve Scott Invitational.
β’ Her time ranks fourth in program history.
β’ Two weeks ago, Hadley became UC Irvine's first women's 1500m Big West champion since 2006.
β’ Hadley transferred to UCI after two seasons at the University of Colorado.
KAILAH MCKENZIE // Long Jump // Junior // 5-6 // Sacramento, Calif. // Major: SociologyΒ
β’ Kailah McKenzie is making her third NCAA West First Round appearance, and second in the long jump (2025, 2026).
β’ McKenzie was also a high jump qualifier in 2024 and 2025.
β’ This year, McKenzie won two of her three long jump competitions.
β’ She finished first at the Vince O'Boyle Classic and at the Beach Invitational where she registered a season-best 6.21m (20-4.5).
β’ McKenzie scored in the event at the Big West Championships, placing fifth overall at 6.03m (19-9.5).
β’ McKenzie, who was the 2024 Big West Women's Freshman of the Year, ranks second in school history with a lifetime-best 6.33m (20-9.25).
GISELLE RODRIGUEZ // Javelin // Junior // 5-10 // Fall River Mills, Calif. // Major: Psychology
β’ Giselle Rodriguez qualified for the NCAA regional meet in the javelin in her first year as an Anteater.
β’ Rodriguez had two individual victories during the regular season and was the runner-up at the Big West Championships.
β’ She established a personal-record 48.38m (158-8) at the Vince O'Boyle Classic.
β’ That mark ranks second in program history (since 1999).
β’ Rodriguez transferred to UC Irvine from Butte College where she was a member of both the women's basketball and track & field teams.
KAIA SCHMIDT // Steeplechase // Junior // 5-6 // West Linn, Ore. // Major: Pharmaceutical Sciences
β’ Kaia Schmidt qualified for her first NCAA West First Round in the steeplechase.
β’ Schmidt won all three of her steeple races this year, including at the Big West Championships two weeks ago.
β’ She broke the school record in an individual victory at the Triton Invitational where she crossed the finish line in 10:16.88.
β’ Schmidt was named the Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Week for that effort.
β’ She was also an all-conference performer in cross country this past fall, finishing fourth at the 2025 Big West Championships.
Β
HALLE SUTHERLAND // 200m & 4x100 Relay // Junior // 5-5 // Lake Forest, Calif. // Major: Public Health Science
β’ Halle Sutherland will be making her first NCAA appearance, qualifying for the regional meet in the 200m and 4x100 relay.
β’ Sutherland is the 2026 Big West champion in both events.
β’ She finished ahead of the pack in the 200m with a wind-aided personal-record 23.24.
β’ Her wind-legal PR of 23.69, which she set last year, ranks third in program history.
β’ Sutherland was part of the 4x100 relay that clocked a season-best 44.60, which was .09 seconds off the school record.
β’ She also ranks third among UCI's 100m leaders with a lifetime-best 11.53 that she ran at the conference meet.
ZHARIA TAYLOR // High Jump // Senior // 5-8 // Long Beach, Calif. // Major: Urban Studies
β’ Zharia Taylor is making a return trip to the NCAA West First Round in the high jump.
β’ In 2025, she cleared a personal-record 1.81m (5-11.25) to tie for ninth and punch her ticket to the NCAA Championships.
β’ She went on to earn second-team All-America honors after placing 16th in Eugene.
β’ This year, Taylor took home the high jump title at the Big West Championships with a season-best 1.78m (5-10).
β’ She also scored in the heptathlon, placing fourth overall with a PR 5,384 points.
β’ Taylor ranks second in school history in the high jump and fifth in the heptathlon.
CATALINA TERAN // 4x100 Relay // Junior // 5-6 // Angelus Oaks, Calif. // Major: Sociology
β’ Catalina Teran is the anchor of UC Irvine's 4x100 relay that qualified for the NCAA West First Round.
β’ She helped the quartet to three victories on the year, including at the Big West Championships.
β’ They combined for a season-best 44.60 in a win at the Steve Scott Invitational.
β’ Teran has made an immediate impact in her first year at UCI as she was also part of the school-record 4x400 relay (3:39.01).
β’ In addition, she ranks among the top-10 in program history in the 100m (5th), 200m (2nd), and 400m (7th).
β’ Teran transferred to UC Irvine from Riverside City College.
UP NEXT
The top-12 finishers in each event will qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 10-13. Joy Anderson and Jolie Robinson have already punched their ticket in the heptathlon where they rank among the top-24 in the nation.
Players Mentioned
Heptathlon/High Jump
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Heptathlon/Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Heptathlon
/ Women's Track & Field
Javelin
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Heptathlon/High Jump
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
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