During finals week, UCLA track and field members break school records
Natalie Ramirez attempts a shot put throw. The senior won the shot put and discus titles in Saturday’s meet at Drake Stadium. (Amelie Ionescu/Daily Bruin senior staff)
By Rahaf Abumansour
March 27, 2023 1:53 p.m.
Despite competing amid finals week, the Bruins had no intention of slowing down.
UCLA track and field hosted the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival and the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational at Drake Stadium on Friday and Saturday, respectively, to cap off winter quarter.
Coach Avery Anderson said he was proud of the efforts put in by the athletes during a challenging academic stretch.
“Coming out of finals week in an institution like UCLA where it’s rough to train and study and perform in their home stadium with their families, I thought we did a great job,” Anderson said.
The Bruins won multiple divisions while achieving personal bests and breaking school records. Javelin graduate student Federica Botter set a new school record in the javelin with a throw of 53.20 meters on Friday. Graduate student thrower Mayyi Mahama set the No. 4 mark in school history by throwing the hammer 65.97 meters during the Bruins’ 1-2 finish in the event. Lyvante Su’emai, a sophomore, placed second with a throw of 56.40 meters.
The Bruins ran exceptionally well in the 1500-meter race, which was paced by sophomore Mia Barnett at a pace of 4:14.95 – the sixth fastest time in school history. Senior Gwyn George placed third at 4:24.44, while junior Ashley Johnson placed fifth at 4:26.16 and redshirt junior Sophia Hoelzel placed 10th at 4:31.63.
Barnett said she has her eyes set on a faster time in the future for her senior campaign.
“It is a good starting point for sure, and I have bigger plans for the season,” Barnett said. “We trained through this meet, and I came in with 4:14, won that race, and then won the 800, 2:07, so just taking those results and working hard from here and seeing the payoff later.”
Six men from UCLA were in the top 10 with times that were all personal bests. Junior Ronan McMahon-Staggs broke the top five for the 1500-meter run in UCLA history with a timing of 3:41.07. Junior Dylan Wilbur, sophomore Ajani Salcido and senior Mason Ratkovich rounded out the top five in the same event.
As for Saturday’s action, the blue and gold was out to achieve new titles in its home stadium. Senior Natalie Ramirez commenced the action by winning in the discus and shot put, with her personal best of 15.43 meters in the latter.
Ramirez said she is proud of her marks from Saturday and will use them as a barometer of her progress for the rest of the season.
“I PR’d in the shotput and achieved a closer PR in the discus, good for this part of the season,” Ramirez said. “But excited for the rest of the season – I’ll be coming back strong.”
UCLA dominated the men’s and women’s 400 meters. For the men’s, six of the top eight represented the blue and gold, with senior Cameron Reynolds winning the event with a 45.90. He was followed by senior Myles Misener-Daley, graduate student Willington Wright and junior Antonie Nortje.
Barnett won the 800 meters race Sunday to add to her 1500-meter triumph from Saturday.
“I would like to chase the school record in the 1500, … and be in the conversation of winning the title,” Barnett said.
The Bruins are preparing to go to the Texas Relays in a couple of days, and, according to Coach Anderson, the expectations are high.
“We are planning to take on the world,” Anderson said. “We have to be mentally prepared and be able to compete at a high level emotionally and physically.”
