California Track & Field Team Heads to New Mexico Collegiate Classic
The California track & field team is set to make their mark at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, taking place at the Albuquerque Convention Center this weekend. The team will be competing on Friday and Saturday, with events kicking off at 8:45 a.m. PT/9:45 a.m. MT on Friday with the heptathlon 60m, and 8:20 a.m. PT/9:20 a.m. MT on Saturday with the heptathlon 60m hurdles.
Season Debuts and Fresh Faces
This weekend’s meet will see the season debuts of two of Cal’s pole vaulters, David Brok and freshman Anya Patel. Additionally, teammates Seth Johnson and Luke Buddie will be competing in their first heptathlons of 2026. The Bears are looking to build on their strong performance at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational, where eight different athletes recorded new program top-10 marks.
Record-Breaking Performances
The California track & field team has been on a record-breaking streak, with three school records and three freshman records broken so far this season. At the Spokane Sports Showcase, Lamarr Kirk Jr. surpassed his own 1,000m record by over five seconds, while rookie Jackson Hein broke a 10-year-old mark in the 600m. Pietro Camilli also threw the weight 19.61m (64-4) in his collegiate debut, crushing Cal’s 11-year-old freshman record.
All-ACC Returners
The Bears have a strong contingent of All-ACC returners, with 10 athletes combining for 14 All-ACC honors last season. Sophomore thrower Lucija Leko was responsible for three of those, including a first-team nod for outdoor shot put. Classmates Trevor Rogers and Valentina Savva also earned outdoor silver medals and indoor second-team recognition.
International Stars
Three returning Bears competed at the international level over the summer, with Valentina Savva finishing third at the European U23 Championships and setting a new Cypriot record. Teammate Audrey Jacobs also reached the hammer final at the European U23 Championships, while Lucija Leko competed in both the discus and shot put at the European U23 Championships.
High Hopes for the Hurdlers
The Bears have a talented group of hurdlers, with five returning athletes posting program top-10 times in 2025. Upperclassmen Mari Testa, Saqqara Ruffin, and Loreal Wilson are looking to build on their breakout campaigns, while sophomore Inara Ukawuba is looking to make a statement after missing the outdoor season last year.
Rookies on Watch
The Bears have a plethora of talented freshmen looking to make an impact this season. The trio of Lauren Gilhooly, Kaitlyn Williams, and Tiffany Williams lead a strong freshman sprints unit, while middle-distance star Salma Bejia and pole vaulters Sam Novak and Kai Anderson are also looking to make a statement.
New Year, New Staff
The Bears have two new faces on their full-time coaching staff, with Tyler Burdorff and Nicole Matysik joining the team. Burdorff, who leads the throws unit, arrived at Cal from Maryland, where he coached two national-record holders and four USA Track & Field (USATF) Indoor Championships finalists. Matysik, who raced for Furman cross country and track & field as a collegiate runner, earned 11 combined All-SoCon honors and five conference titles.
Stay Posted
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