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MacBruin
Joined: 8/27/06 Posts: 4,641

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Summary of UCLA T&F Men's Team
Posted Tue, Dec 10 5:53 pm
The new regime of Joanna Hayes has posted the roster for 2025, and I have just gone through it and looked up the performances of returning veterans and newcomers. Here's a look at the men who might shine for UCLA in the spring. Be forewarned: ALL of last year's 4x400m runners have graduated or transfered. Also, keep in mind that I have skipped over several athletes who could surprise me.

Returning men to watch:

Gabriel Clement II; soph.; 10.55 100m, 21.32 200m, 46.90 400m
Kris Emig; senior; 233-0 hammer throw
Leon Gillis; junior.; 6-10.75 high jump
Angus Harrington; grad.; 1:47.94 800m
Michael Mireles; grad.; 3:47.01 1500m, 13:49.30 5000m
Hunter O'Brien; junior.; 17-09.25 pole vault
Michael Pinckney Jr.; junior.; 219-11 hammer throw, 193-6 discus, 57-9 shot put
John Robinson IV; junior; 10.54 100m, 21.06 200m
And MAYBE Camryn O'Bannon; junior; 25-02 long jump (didn't compete last season)

Promising Newcomers:

Di'Niko Bates; senior (from USC); 13.53 110m hurdles, 48.58 400m
Joel Bengtsson; grad. (from UT Arlington); 13.54 110m hurdles, 21.55 200m
Shamar Cook; junior (from Merrit College); 6-9 high jump
Andreas Dybdahl; frosh; 150.97 800m, 3:47.29 1500m
Karson Gordon; frosh; 53-1.5 triple jump (natl. HS record), 23-0 long jump
Allan Hunter; grad. (from Stanford); 25-0.75 long jump
Kojo Manu; grad. (from Oregon); 48.76 400m
Tamaal Myers Jr.; junior (from USC); 50.48 400m hurdles (5th in Pac-12 2024)
Parker Raymond; grad. (from Indiana); 1:48.07 800m
Jack Rosencrans; grad. (from Pomona); 3:46.07 1500m
Jeremy Zammit; junior (from Auburn); 25-8.75 long jump

I'll post my summary of the women's team tomorrow.
bruintrack
Joined: 8/24/17 Posts: 153
recruiting
Posted Wed, Dec 11 5:40 pm
In response to Summary of UCLA T&F Men's Team (MacBruin)
I'd add freshman thrower Derek Smith to your list.

Some commits I've seen:

Steven Sabino - https://worldathletics.org/athletes/mozambique/steven-sabino-14961939
Benjamin Lingenfelter - https://www.athletic.net/athlete/19573720/track-and-field/all
https://www.sbsun.com/2024/05/01/may-is-cif-ss-throwdown-time-for-yucaipa-track-and-field-standout-benjamin-lingenfelter/

Zaire Waring - https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/8283412/San_Jose_State/Zaire_Waring
Bennett Booth-Genthe (maybe) - https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/7917917/Pomona_Pitzer/Bennett_Booth-Genthe.html
MacBruin
Joined: 8/27/06 Posts: 4,641

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Wasn't Sure about Smith
Posted Wed, Dec 11 10:44 pm
In response to recruiting (bruintrack)
I looked at Derek Smith's top marks and found it hard to figure out how much the discus and shot put he was throwing weighed to establish his PRs. I didn't see a PR set with a 2 kg discus for example. And I think he was tossing a 12 lb. shot when he got out to 58-ll. I hope he develops into a first-rate college thrower.

Thanks for the links to info about the other new additions to the team. With a 10.35 100m time, Sabino will certainly give the sprint corps a boost. Lingenfelter's PRs look similar to Smith's in the throws, so we'll see how he makes the leap to the heavier implements in college. And Waring will add depth in the 200m, 400m and maybe the 400m hurdles, as will Booth-Genthe in the 400m and 800m (if he does come to Westwood).
UclanDoIt
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 3,917

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Does UCLA T&F seem to be on the upswing?
Posted Fri, Dec 13 5:27 pm
In response to Summary of UCLA T&F Men's Team (MacBruin)
MacBruin and bruintrack, I appreciate the updates on the UCLA men's and women's T&F teams. While it's still early, are your initial impressions favorable on new Director Joanna Hayes?

It's been years since UCLA has scored many points in the NCAA meet (notably on the men's side). I thank the athletes who have participated on the UCLA T&F teams over the past few years but I'm hoping to see a time when the Bruins can return to at least a scoring threat in the NCAA, notably in the running events (they seemed to do better in the field events). With the LA Olympics a few years away, it would be great to see UCLA athletes representing the USA.
MacBruin
Joined: 8/27/06 Posts: 4,641

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Too Soon to Tell
Posted Fri, Dec 13 7:23 pm
In response to Does UCLA T&F seem to be on the upswing? (UclanDoIt)
Joanna Hayes inherited a T&F program that was devoid of stars, and the entire men's 4x400m relay team is gone due to expired eligibility or the transfer portal. Losing guys like Turner, Misener-Daley and Nortje really hurt the team's sprint corps and eliminated their one real threat to get on the podium as a relay team at the NCAA championship meet.
Coach Hayes has great experience, excellent contacts and impeccable credentials, and she has brought in some eager, knowledgeable assistant coaches to recruit well and develop the athletes effectively. But I haven't seen any newcomers on the 2025 roster that have a shot at becoming Olympic team members.
Like you, I yearn for the track greatness we Bruin fans loved in the past, and I'm willing to give JH some time to make that happen again.
DB
Joined: 2/03/05 Posts: 19,654

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Why doesn't Ucla get more uppler level sprinters?
Posted Wed, Jan 08 1:09 pm (Edited Wed, Jan 08 1:10 pm)
In response to Too Soon to Tell (MacBruin)
There are always top guys here in CA yet none ever seem to commit to Ucla for track. I personally know 3 HS sprinters that bested 10.25 during HS (over last 3-4 yrs) right here in LA or OC and not one went on to Ucla. Why can't we land any of these guys?
Finally
Joined: 2/07/09 Posts: 1,636
Not sure the answer
Posted Fri, Jan 10 5:14 am
In response to Why doesn't Ucla get more uppler level sprinters? (DB)
and I’m interested in knowing the answer too but since you know them personally, can you ask them why they didn’t come to UCLA?
MacBruin
Joined: 8/27/06 Posts: 4,641

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Good Question
Posted Thu, Jan 30 12:17 pm
In response to Why doesn't Ucla get more uppler level sprinters? (DB)
Track stars, especially sprinters, may get some NIL money, but not nearly as much as talented football and basketball players. And it seems that the T&F athletes who get paid the most are adept at drawing attention to themselves on social media platforms like TikTok, X, FB and Instagram. Of course, the golden tickets are shoe deals with companies like Nike (#1 brand) or Adidas. For example, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone signed a $1.5 million deal with New Balance when she was only 19; in 2017, Usain Bolt got a $10 million dollar contract from Puma; and last year, Noah Lyles signed a deal worth $2 million per year with Adidas. Contracts like that come from exposure, both nationally and internationally, world records, and marketing. Rai Benjamin reportedly has a net worth of $5 million, primarily via contracts with major brands.

Most likely, Joanna Hayes has very little NIL money to offer potentially world-class athletes, making it difficult to recruit against top college programs like Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas Tech, Alabama, Florida, Texas A&M, SC, LSU and Oregon without an enthusiastic fanbase, a high rate of recent success, strong administrative support, a hefty budget, a state-of-the-art T&F facility and access to lucrative sponsorship opportunities. Add to that the academic rigor athletes have to deal with at UCLA, and it becomes clear that Hayes has a monumental task ahead of her. She does have a few advantages, though. Westwood and the UCLA campus sell themselves, as does the weather. And Joanna has contacts, credibility, and experience that Avery Anderson couldn't match. So, with the aid of her young, accomplished assistant coaches who excelled in the sprints and hurdles, she may soon start attracting star sprinters and hurdlers. As an aside, it might help if she hired Chase Griffin to teach Bruin track athletes--and football players--how to market themselves.
bruintrack
Joined: 8/24/17 Posts: 153
agree
Posted Thu, Jan 09 6:14 pm
In response to Too Soon to Tell (MacBruin)
I agree, we'll have to see how the team does this year.

BTW, here's another transfer addition: Oliver/Ollie Thorner

https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/9006510/UCLA/Oliver_Thorner.html
https://gohuskies.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/ollie-thorner/14837
MacBruin
Joined: 8/27/06 Posts: 4,641

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Wow, Thorner's a One-Man Track Team
Posted Tue, Jan 28 3:49 pm
In response to agree (bruintrack)
I missed your post about Ollie and just saw it now. He should be a real threat in the decathlon, and he could also score points for UCLA in the sprints and maybe even the long jump. Nice catch, as always, bruintrack.
bruintrack
Joined: 8/24/17 Posts: 153
Couple updates
Posted Sat, Feb 01 4:44 pm
In response to Wow, Thorner's a One-Man Track Team (MacBruin)
Big jump for commit Steven Sabino - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFifQbYoLLK/

Late add to this year’s team - https://worldathletics.org/athletes/germany/emie-lotta-berger-14964211

Kaitlyn Arciaga commit - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFESdVaSuTu/
https://www.athletic.net/athlete/19592904/track-and-field/all
stokedbruin
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 98
Appreciation
Posted Sat, Feb 01 6:48 pm
In response to Couple updates (bruintrack)
Bruintrack! I’m not sure where you get your information about our commits, but I am thankful that you are sharing!!!

Hopefully they will keep coming!