The California track and field team concluded its regular season at Cobb Track and Angell Field on Friday night, May 1, recording three new program top-10 performances and winning 16 events during the Payton Jordan Invitational as they prepare for the upcoming ACC Outdoor Championships.
The meet was highlighted by freshman pole vaulter Kai Anderson, who achieved a personal best of 5.32 meters (17-5.5) to win his event and tie Cal’s freshman record that was first set by Brent Burns in 1988. Anderson’s result places him ninth in the outdoor program’s history. He is also the second Cal first-year vaulter this season to claim a freshman record, following Sam Novak’s achievement indoors.
Other notable performances included junior Justin Pretre improving his personal best in the 1500 meters to 3:40.56, strengthening his hold on fifth place in Cal history for that event. Redshirt freshman Sabine Kim made her debut in the women’s 10,000 meters with a time of 34:05.46—eighth fastest all-time at Cal and the school’s best since Bethan Knights ran it in 2017.
Sophomore Nairobi Smith won both the women’s 100 meters (11.44) and the women’s 200 meters (23.40w), while senior Saqqara Ruffin took first place in the women’s 100-meter hurdles with a season-best time of 13.36 seconds, just shy of her wind-legal personal record.
In field events, sophomore Trevor Rogers led men’s long jump with a season-best mark of 7.58 meters (24-10.5), while freshman Caitlyn Johnson won on the women’s side with a wind-aided leap of over six meters. The Bears also swept titles in triple jump and hammer throw for both men and women.
Looking ahead, California will travel to Louisville for postseason competition at the ACC Outdoor Championships from May 14 through May 16.
