ALBUQUERQUE, N.M./SEATTLE – The California Golden Bears track and field sent a split squad to the Don Kirby Elite Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M. and the Husky Classic in Seattle for day two of each of the respective meets. Six Bears recorded PR's on Saturday, all in Seattle at Dempsey Indoor. Freshman Bethan Knights clocked a Cal freshman record with a mark of 9:18.42 in the 3000-meters, a record that stood since 1986. Additionally, junior distance runner Mariel Mendoza took home her heat in the women's 3000-meter at the Husky Classic with a new PR time of 9:51.00. Sophomore Khalfani Muhammad also PR'ed in his qualifying effort in the 60-meter dash, with a time of 6.81, just a tenth of a second off of Tom Blocker's school record set last season (6.71). Four PR's were also set in the mile; junior Thomas Joyce (4:00.29), which places him eighth on the Top Performer's list, sophomore Josh Lewis (4:06.88), junior Leland Later (4:08.00) and junior Sydney Gray (4:42.66) all outperformed their previous bests. Additionally, several freshmen improved on their first efforts from two weeks ago.

"Bethan, Thomas, Chioma (Amaechi), Jayla (Scholis) and Khalfani all stood out this weekend in a highly competitive, national level meet," Director of track and field Tony Sandoval said. "The distances were incredible with both post-college and college athletes from all over the United States. For newcomers Bethan and Jayla to shine in this environment is very encouraging. Chioma also has her eyes set on a return to the NCAA's. Thomas had a big kick to win his heat and is poised for a crack at the school record in the mile and to get under four minutes. Khalfani is in fine form and ran well against a couple of post-college elite competitors."

Knights who finished 13th in the 3000-meters on Saturday, broke former Cal All-American Sally Wood's 29-year record time of 9:23.90.

Muhammad placed third in the 60-meters with his time of 6.82 in the final, behind Nike's Ryan Bailey (6.53), who set the Dempsey Indoor record in the prelims with a mark of 6.50. Muhammad set a new personal best in the prelims with a time of 6.81, surpassing his previous best mark of 6.89, set last year in Seattle at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships.

The Bears excelled individually on the mile, as Joyce and Lewis each won their respective heats. Joyce (4:00.29) surpassed even his outdoor best (4:00.49), cemented himself into the eighth position on Cal's All-Time Performers list in the event, and wasn't too far off the pace of indoor school record-holder Mark Matusak (3:58.36 in 2010) on Saturday. Lewis' previous best was set in Albuquerque a few weeks ago at the New Mexico Team Challenge (4:16.39). Later set a new indoor PR on Saturday (4:08.00), and was just seconds short of outdoor best (4:06.74). On the women's side, Gray eclipsed her previous PR by nearly 12 seconds with Saturday's 4:42.66. Mendoza also won her heat of the 3000, clocking a personal best of 9:51.00 which was a shade under 25 seconds better than her performance a few weeks ago in Albuquerque 10:15.93.

The Bears will return to Seattle for the MPSF Championships on Feb. 27-28. The men will be looking to defend the school's first ever conference title, while the women are set to improve on last year's seventh place finish. Fans are encouraged to follow @Cal_Track for the latest news and updates.

Don Kirby Elite Invitational
Albuquerque, N.M.
Albuquerque Convention Center

California Results

Men
Triple Jump – 9. Jonte Grant 49-6.50 (15.10m); Karsten Wethington Foul

Women

Triple Jump – 7. Kiare Tanner 40-8.25 (12.40m); 13. Ashley Anderson 39-10.50 (J12.15m); 21. Rukayah Bent-Mikail 38-5.50 (11.72m)

Husky Classic
Seattle, Wash.
Dempsey Indoor

California Results

Men
60-meters (prelims) – 3. Khalfani Muhammad 6.81q PR

60-meters (final) – 3. Khalfani Muhammad 6.82

400-meters – 28. Jonte Turner 50.21

800-meters – 29. Eugene Hamilton III 1:51.83; 43. Ellis Newton 1:52.67

Mile – 8. Thomas Joyce 4:00.29 PR; 36. Josh Lewis 4:06.88 PR; 45. Leland Later 4:08.00 PR

3000-meters – 24. Chris Walden 8:08.72

60-meter hurdles (prelims) – 2. Ashtyn Davis 8.18q; T-7. Jonte Turner 8.33q; 15. Ja'Vion Robinson 8.53

60-meter hurdles (final) – 2. Ashtyn Davis 8.07

4x400-meter relay – 6. Josh Lewis, Eugene Hamilton III, Ellis Newton, Jonte Turner 3:18.04

High Jump – David Chukwu NH

Long Jump – 23. Ben Davis 20-0.25 (6.10m)

Triple Jump – 9. Ben Davis 45-1.50 (13.75m)

Shot Put – 8. Matt Esparza 54-3.25 (16.54m); 10. Ethan Cochran 52-10.00 (16.10m)

Women

60-meters (prelims) – 6. Jayla Scholis 7.61q; 29. Jasiri Blake 7.89

60-meters (final) – 7. Jayla Scholis 7.58

400-meters – 43. Khala Taylor 58.70

800-meters – 57. Natalie Herberg 2:14.71

Mile – 13. Sydney Gray 4:42.66 PR

3000-meters – 13. Bethan Knights 9:18.42; 59. Mariel Mendoza 9:51.00 PR; 74. Megan Bordes 9:58.74

60-meter hurdles (prelims) – 11. Morgan Robertson 8.81

4x400-meter relay – 12. Khala Taylor, Sydney Gray, Natalie Herberg, Jayla Scholis 3:59.64

Shot Put – 7. Chioma Amaechi 48-0.00 (14.63m); 8. Ginika Iwuchukwu 46-3.25 (14.10m)

q- qualified for final