NCAA

Pac-12 Championships Loom Ahead For Bears

Pac-12 Championships Loom Ahead For Bears



The Bears, who have set four school records this season, will look to improve on their three individual conference titles from last year.


Powerful Conference Features Six Men’s, Six Women’s Nationally-Ranked Teams

BERKELEY– After a historic outdoor season that saw California track & field set four new school records, nine meet records and an under-23 world record, the Golden Bears are ready for their toughest test yet as they head down to Walnut this weekend for the Pac-12 Championships at Hilmer Lodge Stadium.
 
Friday’s events will begin with the women’s heptathlon at 1:30 p.m. PT, while Saturday’s competition starts at 11:30 with day two of the men’s decathlon. Team champions will be crowned on Sunday following the last of the contests, which begin with the men’s discus at 11 a.m.
 

“This year’s squad is notable for the underclassmen stepping up their game,” Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Robyne Johnson said. “It’s a testament to our staff getting everyone ready to go this weekend and beyond. It’s not just about this meet – we’re always trying to make our mark both nationally and internationally.
 
“We’ve been building toward this meet through the whole year,” she continued, “and we’re looking forward to finally seeing how our kids line up against the best in the conference. It’s been a lot of fun seeing people continue to get better and push the limits of their abilities.”
 
Currently, Cal’s men are ranked second in the conference, while the women are listed at No. 7. The team has collected five Pac-12 Field Athlete of the Week awards this season, with three of the men’s awards going to sophomore Mykolas Alekna, a fourth to classmate Tyler Burns, and the lone women’s award to senior Amari Turner.
 
Cal looks to put together a well-rounded showing this weekend, as no fewer than nine of its event squads are ranked in the nation’s top-25 lists (men’s discus, men’s decathlon, women’s hammer, men’s pole vault, men’s hammer, women’s pole vault, men’s 110m hurdles, men’s high jump and men’s 400m). No fewer than 10 athletes rank in the conference’s top-five in their respective events; as the current collegiate discus record-holder, Alekna sits at No. 1 overall, as does women’s hammer thrower Anna Purchase, decathlete Hakim McMorris, and both Burns and

CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at California Golden Bears Athletics…