In what is considered the start of the championship season for UCLA and USC outdoor track & field, the UCLA Bruins swept the USC Trojans in a dual track meet at Drake Stadium on the campus of UCLA. The meet was held on Sunday, May 4. The Trojans, who won the national championship in men’s indoor track & field and finished third nationally in women’s indoor track & field a few months ago, were heavily favored to beat the Bruins.
The UCLA women convincingly beat the USC women, 92-71, while the UCLA men edged the USC men, 82-81. It was the first sweep for UCLA in the annual rivalry series since 2013. It also the first win for the UCLA women since 2013. For Joanna Hayes, in her first year as Director of Track & Field Athletics for UCLA, this meet could not have gone any better.
The UCLA women were led by junior sprinter Naomi Johnson and her stunning win in the 200-meter dash with a personal best of 22.91 seconds. It was her first time under 23 seconds. Johnson, the former Riverside Eastvale Roosevelt high school star, also finished third in the 100-meter dash at 11.28, also a personal best. Teammate Taylor Snaer took second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.06, giving the Bruins an 8-1 win in the event (5 points for first, 3 points for second, 1 point for third).
The UCLA women swept the 1500-meter run with Mia Kane winning in 4:26.76, followed by Kaho Cichon at 4:26.80 and Rose Pittman at 4:27.10. Pittman also won the 800-meter race with a time of 2:06.96. The UCLA women also swept the 3000-meter run, with Annika Salz winning in a time of 9:57.02. Kane ran the 3000-meter race in a Drake track record of 9:45.76 in 2023. Kane also won the 3000-meter steeplechase in 10:17.27, leading another UCLA sweep of a race.
Yanla Ndjip-Nyemeck won the 100-meter hurdles at 13.01 seconds. Sonia Virk of UCLA won the 400-meter hurdles in 57.11 seconds. Sydney Johnson of UCLA won the women’s long jump in 20 feet, 5 inches. Ka’Leila Abrille entered the crowded field in the women’s pole vault and won the event with some impressive vaults, winning with a vault of 4.41m (14 feet,5.50″), a personal best.
The USC women won the 400-meter relay and the 1600-meter relay and added a victory in the 100-meter dash with Samirah Moody winning in 11:09 seconds. Ashley Eramus of USC easily win the women’s shot put in 58 feet, 10 inches and the USC women swept the discus event, with Reese Garland winning that event.
The UCLA men had a much tougher time of it, barely pulling out a win with 1-2 victory in the men’s long jump, with Jeremy Zammit jumping 24 feet, 10 1/2 inches to win it, and Allan Hunter jumping 24 feet, 7 inches to finish second. USC Sophomore Nathan Cumberbatch had an impressive meet, winning the men’s 1500-meter run in 3:43.55 and the men’s 800-meter run in 1:48.12.
The USC men’s won the 400-meter and 1600-meter relays, and swept the 200-meter dash, with Max Thomas winning in an impressive time of 20.33 seconds. The USC men also swept the 400-meter dash, with Garrett Kaalund leading the way in a blazing 44.73 seconds. JC Stevenson of USC won the 100-meter dash in the closest race of the day, beating teammate Travis Williams 10.251 to 10.257 seconds.
The UCLA men’s team countered with a sweep of the 3000-meter steeplechase, led by Aaron Cantu in a time of 9:31.10. The UCLA men also swept the 3000 meter-run, with Michael Mireles winning in 8:15.56. Cade Sommers led a sweep of the pole vault, winning in a vault of 16 feet, 3/4 inches. Kris Emig led a UCLA sweep in the hammer throw and Michael Pinckney led a UCLA sweep in the discus throw. The UCLA men definitely performed well in the field events on last Sunday.
Both UCLA and USC will see each other again at the Big Ten conference championships at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on Friday, May 16 through Sunday, May 18. This will be a challenging meet for both schools. Oregon won the Big Ten indoor conference championships earlier this year in both the men’s and women’s divisions. That meet was held in Indianapolis. They will be tough to beat on their home track, Hayward Field.