Thursday, May 28
Fayetteville, AR
7:30 AM PT
UC Irvine
vs
NCAA West First Round
Photo by Brendan Maloney
Jazzmine Davis Advances to Quarterfinal at NCAA West First Round
May 28, 2026 | Women's Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The UC Irvine women's track & field team competed in nine events Thursday at the NCAA West First Round in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Β
Senior Jazzmine Davis led the way as she secured an automatic qualifier into Saturday's 100m hurdle quarterfinal round. Davis, who was running in lane nine, took third in her heat with a time of 13.41 seconds.
Β
Junior Halle Sutherland ran a wind-legal season-best 23.78 in the 200m. She came in 36th overall. Two weeks ago, Sutherland won gold in both the 200m and 4x100 relay at the Big West Championships. She establishedΒ a wind-aided personal-record 23.24 in the conference final.
Β
Senior Samantha Bartz was also 36th in the 100m (11.59). Bartz will close out her career as the 100m school record holder, setting the standard twice this year. She initially ran a program-best 11.43 at the Pacific Coast Invitational before seeing a .03 second improvement at the Big West Championships (11.40).
Β
Sutherland and Bartz will return to the track on Saturday, along with Davis and Catalina Teran, in the 4x100 relay.
Β
Junior Emma Hadley, who is the 2026 Big West champion in the 1500m, finished 38th at the NCAA regional meet. Hadley clocked in at 4:24.46. During the regular season, she ran a lifetime-best 4:17.97, which ranks fourth in program history. Hadley won four of her seven 1500m races this year.
Β
Senior Esmeray Demirbas competed in the 400m hurdles (60.60). Demirbas is a two-time NCAA regional qualifier and two-time All-Big West performer in the event. This year, she claimed runner-up honors at the conference championships. Demirbas ranks second on the Anteaters' all-time charts with a personal-best 57.81.
Β
Senior DeAna Davis started the day in the hammer throw where she registered a mark of 53.71 meters (176-2). Davis capped an exceptional career in which she was a two-time NCAA first round qualifier and two-time All-Big West performer. In April, she unleashed a personal-record 58.67m (192-6) to move up to No. 2 in school history.
Β
Junior Giselle Rodriguez placed 41st in the javelin in her first NCAA meet. She recorded a best of 43.62m (143-1). Rodriguez had an impressive debut season with the 'Eaters, claiming runner-up honors at the Big West Championships and establishing a personal-record 48.38m (158-8) in an individual victory at the Vince O'Boyle Classic. Her PR is third among UCI's all-time leaders.
Β
Senior Nyla Baker, who won the 2026 Big West shot put title, was 39th in her second career NCAA West First Round with a toss of 14.65m (48-0.75). Baker will be back in action Saturday in the discus.
Β
Junior Kailah McKenzie made her third career NCAA regional appearance, and second in the long jump. She finished with a leap of 5.50m (18-0.5). It was just her fourth long jump competition of the outdoor season. McKenzie owns a personal-record 6.33m (20-9.25), which ranks second in program history.
Β
UC Irvine women's track & field will conclude action at the NCAA West First Round on Saturday, May 30.
Β
Senior Jazzmine Davis led the way as she secured an automatic qualifier into Saturday's 100m hurdle quarterfinal round. Davis, who was running in lane nine, took third in her heat with a time of 13.41 seconds.
Β
Junior Halle Sutherland ran a wind-legal season-best 23.78 in the 200m. She came in 36th overall. Two weeks ago, Sutherland won gold in both the 200m and 4x100 relay at the Big West Championships. She establishedΒ a wind-aided personal-record 23.24 in the conference final.
Β
Senior Samantha Bartz was also 36th in the 100m (11.59). Bartz will close out her career as the 100m school record holder, setting the standard twice this year. She initially ran a program-best 11.43 at the Pacific Coast Invitational before seeing a .03 second improvement at the Big West Championships (11.40).
Β
Sutherland and Bartz will return to the track on Saturday, along with Davis and Catalina Teran, in the 4x100 relay.
Β
Junior Emma Hadley, who is the 2026 Big West champion in the 1500m, finished 38th at the NCAA regional meet. Hadley clocked in at 4:24.46. During the regular season, she ran a lifetime-best 4:17.97, which ranks fourth in program history. Hadley won four of her seven 1500m races this year.
Β
Senior Esmeray Demirbas competed in the 400m hurdles (60.60). Demirbas is a two-time NCAA regional qualifier and two-time All-Big West performer in the event. This year, she claimed runner-up honors at the conference championships. Demirbas ranks second on the Anteaters' all-time charts with a personal-best 57.81.
Β
Senior DeAna Davis started the day in the hammer throw where she registered a mark of 53.71 meters (176-2). Davis capped an exceptional career in which she was a two-time NCAA first round qualifier and two-time All-Big West performer. In April, she unleashed a personal-record 58.67m (192-6) to move up to No. 2 in school history.
Β
Junior Giselle Rodriguez placed 41st in the javelin in her first NCAA meet. She recorded a best of 43.62m (143-1). Rodriguez had an impressive debut season with the 'Eaters, claiming runner-up honors at the Big West Championships and establishing a personal-record 48.38m (158-8) in an individual victory at the Vince O'Boyle Classic. Her PR is third among UCI's all-time leaders.
Β
Senior Nyla Baker, who won the 2026 Big West shot put title, was 39th in her second career NCAA West First Round with a toss of 14.65m (48-0.75). Baker will be back in action Saturday in the discus.
Β
Junior Kailah McKenzie made her third career NCAA regional appearance, and second in the long jump. She finished with a leap of 5.50m (18-0.5). It was just her fourth long jump competition of the outdoor season. McKenzie owns a personal-record 6.33m (20-9.25), which ranks second in program history.
Β
UC Irvine women's track & field will conclude action at the NCAA West First Round on Saturday, May 30.
Players Mentioned
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
Javelin
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & FieldAnteater Spotlights | Ep. 6 | Zharia Taylor
Wednesday, January 21
π π¦π¨π¦ππ§π π°π'π₯π₯ π§ππ―ππ« ππ¨π«π ππ π₯Ή #TogetherWeZot | #Shorts
Tuesday, October 28
Before Vs. After the 1500 π
#TogetherWeZot | #RipEm
Tuesday, March 18
An average day at the track βοΈ #TogetherWeZot | #Shorts
Wednesday, March 05
