The UCLA track and field team achieved three new school records at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, over the weekend. The two-day meet, hosted by the University of New Mexico at the Albuquerque Convention Center, featured 15 collegiate teams.
UCLA tied with Georgia for the most first-place finishes, each earning six event wins. The Bruins also recorded 12 top-three finishes, which ranked third among all teams at the event.
Graduate student Yanla Ndjip-Nyemeck led the Bruins with a time of 7.96 seconds in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, setting a new school record and ranking first nationally this season. Michael Pinckney set a school record in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 22.33 meters (73-3.25), while Keilee Hall established a new UCLA best in the women’s 600 meters at 1:29.92. All three athletes won their respective events.
Other event victories for UCLA included Taylor Snaer’s performance in the women’s 200 meters with a time of 23.10 seconds—currently second-fastest in the country this season—Ameen Tokhi’s win in the unseeded men’s 60-meter dash (6.78), and Avery Boyse’s gold medal in the women’s B pole vault (3.94m/12-11).
Freshman Shaun McCoullum finished second in the men’s unseeded 200 meters with a time of 21.13 seconds, placing him eighth on UCLA’s indoor all-time list.
In Friday evening races, Gabriella Taylor and Olivia Griffin placed third and fourth respectively in the women’s unseeded 400 meters.
Keilee Hall became the first Bruin to run under 90 seconds in the women’s 600 meters, winning gold and moving to No.1 on UCLA’s all-time list for that event. Kapiolani Coleman placed sixth all-time for UCLA with her performance.
Snaer concluded Friday by running a personal best in the women’s 200 meters, moving to second on this season’s NCAA list.
On Saturday, Yanla Ndjip-Nyemeck surpassed former school record holder Dawn Harper-Nelson by becoming only the second Bruin to break eight seconds in the women’s 60-meter hurdles. “At 7.96 in the women’s 60mH, Ndjip-Nyemeck got under the eight-second mark for the first time and moved past UCLA Athletics Hall of Famer Dawn Harper-Nelson (7.98) for the school record,” according to meet organizers.
Otto Laing improved his own standing as No.2 all-time at UCLA with his runner-up finish of 7.77 seconds in men’s hurdles.
Ameen Tokhi recorded his first collegiate win with a personal-best time improvement by nearly two-tenths of a second.
Naomi Johnson ran a time of 52.91 seconds in women’s 400 meters to become third fastest ever at UCLA; Chris Paige posted his season-best (48.43) on men’s side.
The women’s quartet of Taylor, Snaer, Hall, and Johnson took second place in relay competition (3:35:16), ranking ninth on UCLA’s historical list for that event.
In field events, Avery Boyse edged out Arizona competitor Kelly De Jong based on attempts to win women’s “B” pole vault; Valentina Fakrogha posted an indoor collegiate best high jump (1:85m/5-11½), placing fourth overall and fifth historically for UCLA; Sydney Johnson finished fourth overall (6:16m/20-2½) in long jump; Michael Pinckney broke his own school record again during Friday night competition; Paige Sommers and Paige Echsner took second and third respectively during Saturday morning pole vault finals; Mackenzie Kirk debuted at No9 on program triple jump list after clearing twelve-and-a-half meters; Derek Smith closed out field events by placing third—and recording a personal best—in men’s shot put (17:13m).
The Bruins will next compete at University of Washington Invite from January30–31.
