Alekna Crushes School Record, Flynt Sets Freshman Record
SAN DIEGO – After three days of competition at the Aztec Invitational, California track & field flew home on Saturday evening with a total of 25 new personal records and 4 new entries on the program's all-time Top 10 lists; however, two particular marks overshadowed the rest. Mykolas Alekna followed up last week's freshman-record performance with a tremendous personal-best discus throw of 66.70m (218-10), shattering a 30-year-old school record by nearly 8 feet, while Amelia Flynt moved up to No. 2 in Cal history with her freshman-record shot put of 16.53m (54-2.75).
"This is such an amazing group," said assistant coach Mohamad Saatara, who leads the throwers. "The mixture of experience at the elite NCAA and international level along with their youth and energy makes them special."
Alekna's mark also broke the World U20 record, the NCAA's freshman record, the Lithuanian U23 record, the Aztrack Sports Deck facility record and the Aztec Invitational meet record. He currently stands at No. 3 in the world this year, as well as no. 3 all-time in the NCAA. Finishing second in the discus throw on Saturday was senior Iffy Joyner, who bested his own PR by approximately eight feet to reach the seventh spot on Cal's all-time list at 61.09m (200-5). Meanwhile, senior Josh Johnson competed in his first outdoor meet of the 2022 season, winning the shot put contest with a heave of 19.46m (63-10.25).
In addition to her stellar shot put performance that earned her third place, Flynt also acquitted herself well in the discus throw, beating her old PR by over five meters to reach a mark of 53.09m (174-2) that earned her fourth place. Teammate Jasmine Blair won the event with a throw of 56.38m (184-11).
Several other Golden Bear freshmen also impressed throughout the competition. Riley Knott competed in his first collegiate decathlon, finishing in third place with 5778 points after winning the event's high jump contest with a personal-best leap of 2.00m (6-6.75). Tyler Burns recorded his first collegiate win in the pole vault, soaring to a PR of 5.17m (16-11.5). Isaiah Shaw continued his season-long improvement in the triple-jump, leaping to a first-place (and personal-best) 14.85m (48-8.75). Hurdling phenom Di'Niko Bates clinched the win in the 110m hurdles, posting a time of 14.54.
Not to be outdone, many of the other Bears also put together incredible performances on the track. Senior Ezinne Abba's 100m time of 11.31 was just 0.01 seconds away from her own school record. Sophomore Jada Hicks, competing in the 100m hurdles, posted a time of 13.80 that put her at seventh on Cal's all-time list. Junior Asha Fletcher reached the podium in two events: the triple jump (first place, 12.70mw/41-8) and the long jump (third place, 5.97m/19-7).
In all, the men's side accumulated 159 points to take second place overall, while the women's 111 points earned third place.
MEN: 159 points (2nd place)
Decathlon: 3. Riley Knott 5778
-100m: 4. 11.77
-LJ: 2. 6.21m/20-4.5
-SP: 2. 11.26m/36-11.5
-HJ: 1. 2.00m/6-6.75 (PR)
-400m: 4. 55.33
-110h: 3. 17.80 (PR)
-Discus: 2. 29.10m/95-5
-Pole Vault: 2. 4.15m/13-7.25
-Javelin: 2. 44.39m/145-7
-1500m: 3. 5:41.83
Pole Vault: 1. Tyler Burns 5.17m/16-11.5 (PR)
4x100m Relay: 3. California (Christian Catlin, George Monroe, Aiden Lippert, David Foster) 40.26
Shot Put: 1. Josh Johnson 19.46m/63-10.25
1500m Run: 5. Carrick Denker 3:50.28 (PR)
400m Dash: 2. Henry Larkin 47.95; 6. Josh Keller 49.03 (PR); 10. Blaise Carson 49.80
110m Hurdles: 1. Di'Niko Bates 14.54 (PR)
100m Dash: 2. David Foster 10.51 (PR); 9. Samir Thota 10.89; 10. George Monroe 10.91; 11. Christian Catlin 10.93
Long Jump: 1. Mason Mangum 7.31m/23-11.75 (PR); 2. Kamau Carlisle 7.12m/23-4.5
Triple Jump: 1. Isaiah Shaw 14.85m/48-8.75 (PR)
400m Hurdles: 1. Will Sornberger 52.63 (Cal PR); 6. Jimmy Dessouki 56.05
High Jump: T1. Jai Williams 2.07m/6-9.5 (PR)
200m Dash: 4. David Foster 21.18; 6. George Monroe 21.34 (PR); 15. Christian Catlin 21.89; 20. Di'Niko Bates 22.10 (PR); 23. Ethan Song 22.23 (PR)
Discus Throw: 1. Mykolas Alekna 66.70m/218-10 (World U20 Record) (3rd World 2022) (Lithuanian U23 record) (3rd All-time NCAA) (School Record) (NCAA Freshman Record) (Cal Freshman Record) (Facility Record) (Meet Record) (PR); 2. Iffy Joyner 61.09m/200-5 (7th Cal history) (PR); 4. Josh Johnson 55.10m/180-9; 6. Justin Wirtz 54.01m/177-2 (PR)
4x400m Relay: 1. California (Isaiah Shaw, Blaise Carson, Josh Keller, Henry Larkin) 3:12.93
WOMEN: 111 points (3rd place)
Long Jump: 3. Asha Fletcher 5.97m/19-7; 10. Busola Akinduro 5.60m/18-4.5; 11. Ijeoma Uche 5.58m/18-3.75
4x100m Relay: 2. California (Jahzara Richardson, Ezinne Abba, Maisie Stevens, Aysha Shaheed) 44.77
100m Hurdles: 4. Jada Hicks 13.80 (7th Cal history) (Cal PR); 6. Jordyn Grady 13.96 (PR); - Jazlynn Shearer DNF
High Jump: T2. Hawa Wague 1.71m/5-7.25; 6. Toby Lai 1.66m/5-5.25
100m Dash: 1. Ezinne Abba 11.31; 7. Maisie Stevens 11.71; 8. Aysha Shaheed 11.76 (PR); 16. Jahzara Richardson 12.18 (PR); 18. Jordyn Grady 12.22 (PR)
400m Dash: 10. Mina Anglero 58.08
800m Run: 2. Claire Yerby 2:09.82 (PR)
Pole Vault: 4. Amari Turner 3.91m/12-10
Discus Throw: 1. Jasmine Blair 56.38m/184-11; 4. Amelia Flynt 53.09m/174-2 (PR); 9. Krissy Smoot 48.78m/160-0; 14. Sara Pettinger 45.64m/149-9 (PR)
200m Dash: 6. Aysha Shaheed 23.81w; 8. Maisie Stevens 23.95; 12. Jahzara Richardson 24.49 (PR); 15. Ryan Lacefield 24.72 (PR)
Shot Put: 3. Amelia Flynt 16.53m/54-2.75 (Cal Freshman Record) (2nd Cal history) (PR); 7. Krissy Smoot 14.55m/47-9; 8. Sara Pettinger 13.98m/45-10.5 (PR)
Triple Jump: 1. Asha Fletcher 12.70mw/41-8; 3. Busola Akinduro 12.20m/40-0.5; 5. Felicia Renelus 12.15m/39-10.5
4x400m Relay: 3. California (Ryan Lacefield, Mina Anglero, Ezinne Abba, Aly Conyers) 3:42.34
UP NEXT
The Bears will return to Stanford's Cobb Track and Angell Field for the Stanford Invitational, held this year on April 1-2.
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