Albuquerque, N.M. – UCLA Track and field completed its trip to New Mexico with four First Team Indoor All-Americans and five Second Team All-Americans.
The women’s distance medley relay earned the first All-American honors for UCLA with their fourth-place finish Friday night. The team ran a 10:59.87 in just its second time running the event this season.
The men’s 4x400m ran a tight race and finished first in their heat with a come-from-behind chasedown by Ismail Turner in the anchor position. Unfortunately for the Bruins, officials disqualified UCLA on the first leg of the relay, claiming Antonie Nortje stepped on the line twice in lane six during his first lap. Despite an official protest by the Bruin coaching staff, the ruling stood and UCLA was DQ’d in the race.
Ronan McMahon-Staggs jumped out to an early lead in his heat of the men’s one-mile race on Friday, but the pack running behind him made a late move to overtake the junior. McMahon-Staggs finished fifth in his heat with a 4:10.04, good for 12th place in the meet and Second Team All-American.
The women’s 4x400m relay earned Second Team All-American after completing their heat in Saturday’s finals. Seven programs needed to set school bests in the event to finish above the Bruins, who ran a 3:31.91 and placed third in their heat.
Yanla Ndjip-Nyemeck set a personal record in the 60m hurdle prelims (8.01) Friday, but the redshirt-sophomore was unable finish the finals race after colliding into the last hurdle on the track Saturday.
First Team All-Americans
Gwyn George – Women’s Distance Medley Relay
Kate Jendrezak – Women’s Distance Medley Relay
Rose Pittman – Women’s Distance Medley Relay
Mia Barnett – Women’s Distance Medley Relay
Second Team All-Americans
Ronan McMahon-Staggs – Men’s One Mile
Kate Jendrezak – Women’s 4x400m Relay
Aly Conyers – Women’s 4x400m Relay
Makenzy Pierre-Webster – Women’s 4x400m Relay
Naomi Johnson – Women’s 4x400m Relay
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