USC Begins Track & Field Outdoor Season At The Beach Opener This Weekend

The USC Track & Field team will open the 2022 outdoor season at the Beach Opener in Long Beach, Calif. on March 4-5.  The men's and women's hammer throw and javelin throw will be contested on Friday, March 4 with the remainder of the meet taking place on Saturday, March 5.

The USC women's team won the 2021 NCAA team title, but has lost many of the scorers from that team due to graduation.  Among the All-Americans returning for the outdoor season are Bailey Lear, Temi Ojora and Kaelin Roberts.  The men's team placed fifth at the NCAA Championships in 2021 and returns large part of its roster, though gone through graduation are NCAA 800m champion Isaiah Jewett and All-American shot putter Matthew Katnik.

Many of the Trojans competing at this meet will be representing USC for the first time or for the first time in track and field.

Expected to compete for the Trojans are:

Women:  Celera Barnes, Breanna Bernard-Joseph, Julia Bounds, Janiah Brown, Annabel Doherty, Karlee Freeman, Abbey Knoll, Joy McArthur, Summer Mosley, Giovanna Pisano, Jemima Russell, Maci Simmons, Ritika Singh, Jalaysiya Smith

Men: Ashton Allen, Jack Carter, Morgan Fierro, Christian Johnson, Curtis Johnson III, Trey Knight, Dylan Lange, Nikolaos Polychroniou, Daniel Robinson, Gavin Schurr, Sam VanDorpe, Dallas Wise

USC will next be in action at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Ala. from March 10-12.  Trojans who qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships are:  Johnnie Blockburger (M-4x400m), Davonte Burnett (M-60m, M-4x400m), Jan'Taijah Ford (W-400m, W-4x400m), Kimberly Harris (W-400m, W-4x400m), Kasaun James (M-60m, 200m, M-4x400m), Jasmine Jones (W-60m H, W-4x400m), Trey Knight (M-WT), Bailey Lear (W-4x400m), Mecca McGlaston (W-60m H, W-4x400m), Chioma Okonkwo (W-4x400m), Nicholas Ramey (M-4x400m), Earnest Sears III, Zach Shinnick (M-4x400m), Brendon Stewart (M-60m).