Jan. 28, 2012

SEATTLE, Wash. - Sofia Oberg obliterated the Cal record in the women's mile by seven seconds and Golden Bears swept the top three positions in the men's long jump and first two places in the women's 400 meters to highlight the final day of the UW Invitational Saturday.

Senior Taylor Dutch actually broke the school mark in the mile before Oberg, finishing her section in 4:48.53, which was just ahead of Chelsea Reilly's 2010 record of 4:48.89. However, the mark stood for only about five minutes, as Oberg crossed the line in 4:41.57 in the next section race.

"That was a great time for Sofia," Director of Track & Field Tony Sandoval said. "It was a big drop for her and a good beginning to her season."

Oberg, who redshirted indoors last year, is coming off a strong summer in which she ran 4:17.72 in the 1500 meters during a meet in her native Sweden to put her third on Cal's all-time performer list in that event.

In the men's long jump, freshman Jonte Grant claimed first with an effort of 23-7.50, which was seven inches further than he went at last week's Cherry & Silver Invitational. Taylor Kientzel improved nine inches from the Cherry & Silver meet to tie with teammate Chase Wheeler for second at 23-0.00.

Angelica Weaver lowered her PR in the women's 400 meters for the second straight weekend, this time winning in 55.05, exactly one second ahead of runner-up Gia Trevisan, who posted a .63-second improvement in the event.

"Angelica ran unpressed in her race and looked awfully good," Sandoval said.

Cal's final winner on the day was Malaina Payton, who prevailed in the women's long jump at 19-3.25.

Maurice Valentine Jr. stepped up significantly in the men's high jump, tying for third at 6-10.75. His previous best indoor mark for the Bears was 6-6.25 from 2010, while his top outdoor performance is 6-8.

Derek White was third in the men's weight throw at 60-6.75, up 19 inches from last week, while Idarre Coles completed the heptathlon in fourth with a PR 4,867-point total, a 150-point improvement from his 2011 MPSF Championships performance.

Both Sydney Gray (2:13.39) and Taylor Lawson (2:18.06) posted three-second improvements in the women's 800 meters. Linda Oseso finished fourth in the women's weight throw after registering a mark of 60-8.50 on her sixth attempt, coming up just an inch shy of her own school record.

The Bears take next week off from competition, returning to action at the Don Kirby Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M., Feb. 10 and at the Husky Classic in Seattle Feb. 10-11.

UW Invitational
Dempsey Indoor, Seattle, Wash.

Complete Results

Men's Results
60m (prelims) - 13. Dash Oliver 7.12; 27. Chase Wheeler 7.49

400m - 13. Jonathan Berry-Smith 49.80

800m - 14. Alex Schwab 1:52.54; 25. Sebastian Sam 1:53.86

Mile - 7. Collin Jarvis 4:04.41

High Jump - T3. Maurice Valentine Jr. 6-10.75 (2.10m); T5. Brian Carmichael 6-8.75 (2.05m); T5. Nick Ridge 6-8.75 (2.05m); 12. Mike Tracy 6-6.75 (2.00m)

Pole Vault - 6. Evan Barr 14-11.50 (4.56m)

Long Jump - 1. Jonte Grant 23-7.50 (7.20m); T2. Taylor Kientzel 23-0.00 (7.01m); T2. Chase Wheeler 23-0.00 (7.01m)

Triple Jump - 3. Taylor Kientzel 48-6.25 (14.79m); 4. Jonte Grant 48-5.25 (14.76m)

Shot Put - 13. Stephen Burke 46-1.25 (14.05m); 15. Scott Esparza 43-2.50 (13.17m)

Weight Throw - 3. Derek White 60-6.75 (18.46m); 7. Scott Esparza 56-1.75 (17.11m); 12. Chijoke Nwuzi 49-11.25 (15.22m); 13. Stephen Burke 49-1.75 (14.98m)

Heptathlon
60m hurdles - 10. Idarre Coles 9.17 (709 points)
Pole Vault - T6. Idarre Coles 13-1.50 (4.00m) (617 points)
1000m - 8. Idarre Coles 2:54.14 (723 points)
Final Total - 4. Idarre Coles 4867

Women's Results
60m (prelims) - 5. Malaina Payton 7.72q

60m (final) - 7. Malaina Payton 7.67

400m - 1. Angelica Weaver 55.05; 2. Gia Trevisan 56.05

800m - 21. Sydney Gray 2:13.39; 34. Taylor Lawson 2:18.06

Mile - 4. Sofia Oberg 4:41.57 (Cal Record); 14. Taylor Dutch 4:48.53

3000m - 24. Taylor Bryson 9:57.94

60m hurdles (final) - 5. Emani Truluck 8.76

Long Jump - 1. Malaina Payton 19-3.25 (5.87m); Aziza Baker NM

Triple Jump - 4. Aziza Baker 39-9.25 (12.12m)

Weight Throw - 4. Linda Oseso 60-8.50 (18.50m)