Sydney Johnson and Hannah Slover led UCLA’s track and field team at the 2026 Beach Opener in Long Beach, California, each securing first-place finishes in their respective events. Johnson took gold in the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.18 meters (20-3.5), making her the only competitor to surpass six meters. Slover achieved her first collegiate event win in the women’s high jump, clearing 1.73 meters (5-8).
In addition to these victories, UCLA athletes earned five other top-three finishes over the two-day meet. Thrower Derek Smith placed third in the men’s shot put with a throw of 17.03 meters (57-8.25) and narrowly missed another podium finish after setting a personal best of 52.47 meters (172-1) for fourth place in discus.
Graduate transfer Maya Rush made an impact on Friday by throwing 46.51 meters (152-7) in the women’s javelin, finishing third and moving to ninth all-time at UCLA in that event.
On Saturday, Amia Witt followed Slover in the high jump with a second-place clearance of 1.66 meters (5-5.25). Freshman Dior Scholz debuted for UCLA with a fourth-place finish in the long jump at 5.50 meters (17-6-75).
In sprinting events, Johnson also finished fourth in the women’s 200m at 24.23 seconds while Ameen Tokhi set a personal best of 10.44 seconds to place fifth in the men’s 100m dash.
Triple jumpers Terrence Sweetman and Mackenzie Kirk rounded out UCLA’s medal tally by taking third place in their respective events with marks of 14.59 meters (47-10.5) and 12.45 meters (40-10.25).
The Bruins will continue their season next week as seven athletes travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas for the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 13–14, while another group competes at the Aztec Coastal Classic in San Diego during the same weekend.
