Track & Field Releases 2023 Schedule
BERKELEY – California track & field may not start competing for another two months, but they have been working hard in the weight room and on the track – and with the finalized schedule now set, Bears fans can see just when and where they can watch this star-studded roster compete in 2023.
"Everybody looks great so far," said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Robyne Johnson. "We're looking forward to seeing some big performances and getting great opportunities for everyone. I'm very excited about our team and all of the potential it has. Things will only improve as we approach the season – it's going to be another great year."
Cal's men ended the year ranked No. 18 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), having reached a high ranking of 15. The women finished the season ranked No. 21 after topping out at No. 13 earlier that season.
The team kicks off the indoor season by heading to Albuquerque, N.M., for the New Mexico Team Open on Jan. 27-28, followed by a trip to Spokane, Wash., to compete in the WSU Open (Feb. 3-4). Cal then splits its squad for the weekend of Feb. 10-11, sending athletes to both the Don Kirby Elite Invitational in Albuquerque and to the Husky Classic in Seattle. They will close out their main indoor slate with the Pac-12 Invitational in Seattle on Feb. 25-26; afterwards, qualifying athletes will head back to Albuquerque on Mar. 10-11 for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
The Bears' outdoor season starts at Edwards Stadium one week before the Indoor Championships with the Cal Opener on Mar. 4, then resumes two weeks later with the one-day Cardinal Classic in Palo Alto, Calif., on Mar. 18. Cal then travels to San Diego for the Aztec Invitational, which lasts from Mar. 24-25, before dividing the team once again; some will ship out to Austin, Texas, to compete in the prestigious Texas Relays (Mar. 30-Apr. 1), while the rest drive down to Palo Alto for the Stanford Invitational (Mar. 31-Apr. 1).
April begins with another Cal-hosted meet in the Brutus Hamilton Invitational, slated this year for Apr. 8, before the squad travels to the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., on Apr. 13-15. Another trip to Palo Alto follows on Apr. 21 for the Payton Jordan Invitational; afterwards, the Bears will return to Berkeley to host Stanford for the 128th Big Meet on Apr. 28. Their best athletes will then make an appearance at the Pac-12 Outdoor Championships on May 12-14, which will be held at a currently-undecided location, before qualifiers head to the NCAA West Region Preliminary in nearby Sacramento, Calif. (May 24-27). Finally, the season concludes with a return to Austin for the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 7-10.
Cal will also be hosting two all-comers meets at Edwards Stadium on Feb. 4 and Feb. 18.
Last year's team compiled an astonishing two NCAA records (Camryn Rogers, women's hammer; Mykolas Alekna, men's discus), five school records and two freshman records, as well as 62 total entries on the program's all-time top 10 lists. The Bears swept Stanford at the 127th Big Meet in Palo Alto and continued on to place 3rd (women) and 6th (men), respectively, at the Pac-12 Championships, fielding 3 individual champions and 12 overall podium finishers, before sending its largest-ever group of 31 athletes to the NCAA West Region Preliminary. 13 Golden Bear athletes qualified to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, eventually compiling a total of seven All-American nods capped by Rogers' third straight hammer title. It was the first time since 1922 – Cal's very first season of track & field – that the Bears had fielded four First Team All-American throwers.
Following arguably the Bears' best season ever, a slew of postseason awards headed to Cal. Johnson was named the USTFCCCA West Region Women's Coach of the Year, while throws coach Mohamad Saatara earned both the USTFCCCA West Region Men's and Women's Assistant Coach of the Year honors. Rogers became Cal's first-ever finalist for The Bowerman, earning the USTFCCCA West Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year title and a Honda Sport Award finalist nod. Alekna, meanwhile, clinched his spot as the USTFCCA West Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year, in addition to being named the Pac-12 Men's Field Athlete of the Year and Men's Freshman of the Year.
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