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Three Bears Earn Pac-12 Titles

by calbears.com
May 11, 2024
Rowan Hamilton (left), Skyler Magula (center) and Jeff Duensing (right) make up the first Cal men's trio to win Pac-12 titles since 1996.

BOULDER, Colo. - California track & field posted a fantastic outing on day two of the Pac-12 Championships, with no fewer than three Golden Bears winning conference titles at Potts Field and another clinching the first podium finish of his career.
 
All three of Cal's male hammer throwers had standout days. Michael Gupta improved his own program No. 7 mark by over two meters to 66.88m (219-5), finishing eighth to score for the Bears; meanwhile, Ivar Moisander posted a career-high 69.38m (227-7) to take fourth place and improve his own Cal No. 4 entry. Surpassing them both, as well as the rest of the field, was collegiate leader Rowan Hamilton, whose first-round throw of 76.53m (251-1) instantly put him in a substantial lead and eventually earned him Cal's first conference title in the men's hammer since 1919, when Jack Merchant claimed the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) crown with a toss of 42.88m (140-8.5).
 
The Bear's men continued to dominate in the field events for the rest of the day. Just as in the hammer, all three of Cal's male shot putters scored – Jeff Duensing's monstrous season best of 19.83m (65-0.75) was enough for him to claim his first career Pac-12 gold, while Nick Godbehere finished fourth at 18.28m (59-11.75) and Nik Iwankiw seventh at 17.14m (56-2.75). Skyler Magula repeated as Pac-12 Champion in the men's pole vault with a top clearance of 5.34m (17-6.25), while Parker Terrill also scored in that contest with a fifth-place personal best of 5.09m (16-8.25). Magula's win marked Cal's first repeat in a men's event since 2018-19, when Tuomas Kaukolahti won back-to-back titles in the triple jump, as well as the first pole vault repeat since Brent Burns in 1991-92.

"I'm really proud of Skyler for coming back and winning again," assistant coach Dan Lefever said. "It can be different when you have the expectation as the defending champ. He managed the competition and had a solid day when that was what he needed."

Closing out the day's field events were decathletes Seth Johnson and Luke Buddie – Johnson totaled 7114 points to take third place overall, ending strong with wins in the javelin (56.51m/185-4) and 1500m (4:46.67), while Buddie placed fourth with 6849 points.

"Seth just missed out on scoring last year, so I'm thrilled to get him on the podium." Lefever said. "I'm excited for a lot more progress to come from him."
 
Over on the track, both Isaiah Shaw (45.85) and Josh Keller (47.03) shaved around half a second off their 400m personal bests; Shaw's performance was enough for him to rise to No. 3 in program history and qualify him for Sunday's final. David Foster also qualified for his own final, winning his 100m heat in 10.26.
 
Cal's women compiled some nice performances of their own on Saturday. Jazlynn Shearer (13.33) and Asjah Atkinson (13.36) each qualified for the 100m hurdles final with the No. 4 and No. 5 times in program history, respectively; Aysha Shaheed, already qualified in the 200m, won her 100m heat in 11.44 to punch her ticket to another final. Toby Lai scored for the Bears with a sixth-place 1.71m (5-7.25) in the high jump, while heptathlete Torre Anderson's total of 4866 was aided by big PRs in the javelin throw (32.54m/106-9) and the 800m (2:33.02).
 
PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS – Day Two
 
Men's Results (2nd Place, 8 of 21 Events Scored)
100m Prelim: 3. David Foster 10.26 (Q); 9. Chase Williams 10.42; 10. George Monroe 10.42
400m Prelim: 7. Isaiah Shaw 45.85 (q, PR, Cal Top 3); 17. Josh Keller 47.03 (PR)
800m Prelim: 16. Iyan Godwin 1:52.40; 17. Justin Pretre 1:52.86
Pole Vault: 1. Skyler Magula 5.34m/17-6.25; 5. Parker Terrill 5.09m/16-8.25 (PR); 11. Will Siemens 4.59m/15-0.75
Shot Put: 1. Jeff Duensing 19.83m/65-0.75; 4. Nick Godbehere 18.28m/59-11.75; 7. Nik Iwankiw 17.14m/56-2.75
Hammer: 1. Rowan Hamilton 76.53m/251-1; 4. Ivar Moisander 69.38m/227-7 (PR, Cal Top 4); 8. Michael Gupta 66.88m/219-5 (PR, Cal Top 7)
Decathlon:
3. Seth Johnson 7114

  • 3. 110m Hurdles – 14.95 (856 Points)
  • 7. Discus – 34.80m/114-2 (PR, 560 Points)
  • T6. Pole Vault – 3.99m/13-1 (614 Points)
  • 1. Javelin – 56.51m/185-4 (PR, 685 Points)
  • 1. 1500m – 4:46.67 (639 Points)

4. Luke Buddie 6849

  • 7. 110m Hurdles – 15.52 (788 Points)
  • 4. Discus – 38.92m/127-8 (PR, 643 Points)
  • T6. Pole Vault – 3.99m/13-1 (614 Points)
  • 4. Javelin – 53.40m/175-2 (639 Points)
  • 4. 1500m – 5:07.54 (517 Points)

Women's Results (11th Place, 8 of 21 Events Scored)
100m Prelim: 3. Aysha Shaheed 11.44 (Q); 21. Jaymie Ruskovich 11.95
400m Prelim: 14. Ryan Lacefield 54.89
100m Hurdles Prelim: 7. Jazlynn Shearer 13.33 (q, Cal Top 4); 8. Asjah Atkinson 13.36 (q, PR, Cal Top 5); 10. Jada Hicks 13.43
3000m Steeplechase: - Georgia McCorkle DNF
High Jump: 6. Toby Lai 1.71m/5-7.25; 11. Ashanti Elie 1.66m/5-5.25
Shot Put: 15. Sara Pettinger 12.02m/39-5.25
Heptathlon:
10. Torre Anderson 4866

  • 8. Long Jump – 5.67m/18-7.25 (750 Points)
  • 7. Javelin – 32.54m/106-9 (PR, 525 Points)
  • 9. 800m – 2:33.02 (PR, 656 Points)

UP NEXT
Cal closes out the Pac-12 Championships on Sunday, starting off with the women's discus throw at 10 a.m. PT.
 
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