ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – California track & field finished the weekend's slate of competition Saturday at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, adding several more historic performances and personal bests to the Golden Bears' season.
 
The group of Cal's female hurdlers once again made its presence known across all three sections of the competition. Three out of four (junior Mari Testa – 8.23; senior Saqqara Ruffin – 8.46; sophomore Inara Ukawuba – 8.53) advanced to the semifinals, while sophomore Fallyn Gowans lowered her PR in the event to 8.73. Of those three, Testa advanced to the final after posting a time of 8.25 in the semifinals, while Ukawuba recorded a personal-best time of 8.45 to move up one spot to No. 9 in Cal history. Testa ended her day with an exclamation point and ran a career-best 8.22 in the final to tie for the fastest time in program history, matching the standard set by alumnae and former teammate Jada Hicks in 2023.
 
Following squadmate Ali Sahaida's record-setting day in the women's pole vault Friday, freshman Sam Novak was inspired to put up an outstanding performance of his own and make his case for a second ACC Freshman of the Week honor, winning his second title of the year in the men's A section with a mark of 5.45m (17-10.5) that he cleared on his second attempt at that height. By doing so, he crushed his own freshman record by 5.25 inches, also moving into a tie with alumnus Brent Burns for third-best in program history.
 
Redshirt junior Seth Johnson, who won the heptathlon title at the 2025 New Mexico Collegiate Classic, retained his crown with a point total of 5683 of after recording victories in the 60m hurdles (8.05) and the 1000m (2:42.20), both of which were also heptathlon facility records. Although classmate Luke Buddie no-heighted in the pole vault to effectively end his chances at a top-three finish, he acquitted himself well in the day's final event with a fourth-place time of 2:47.70.
 
Five Bears recorded personal bests in the field events. Freshmen Avery Hart and Caitlyn Johnson both improved upon their previous performances in the women's triple jump, with Hart posting a leap of 12.03m (39-5.75) and Johnson a mark of 11.72m (38-5.5) while senior Leah Anderson put up a season-best 12.19m (40-0) to lead the group. On the men's side, junior Jeremiah Bolaños bettered his own PR to 15.37m (50-5.25) and classmate Chukwunonso Udeh added nearly a foot to his own career best, reaching a distance of 13.98m (45-10.5). Redshirt junior Nik Iwankiw rounded out the group with a new best throw in the shot put, with his first toss sailing 17.45m (57-3).
 
NEW MEXICO COLLEGIATE CLASSIC – DAY TWO MEN'S RESULTS
60m (Prelims) – 16. Aidan Orias 6.85 (Q); 39. Wazell Wright 6.96; 41. Josh Myers 6.98; T43. Javon Hampton Jr. 7.02
60m (Semis) – 18. Aidan Orias 6.84
60m Hurdles (Prelims) – 24. Matt Gladney 8.60
Pole Vault A – 1. Sam Novak 5.45m/17-10.5 (PR, Freshman Record, Tied-3rd Cal History)
Triple Jump – 4. Jeremiah Bolaños 15.37m/50-5.25 (PR); T10. Kosi Nwafor 14.60m/47-10.75; 14. Chukwunonso Udeh 13.98m/45-10.5 (PR)
Shot Put – 4. Nik Iwankiw 17.45m/57-3 (PR); 6. Matas Mikulėnas 16.38m/53-9; 8. Eliot Traxler 15.53m/50-11.5
Heptathlon
1. Seth Johnson 5683

• 60m Hurdles – 8.05 (1st, 969 points, Facility Record)
• Pole Vault – 4.40m/14-5.25 (7th, 731 points)
• 1000m – 2:42.20 (1st, 849 points, Facility Record)

11. Luke Buddie 4682

• 60m Hurdles – 8.67 (10th, 820 points)
• Pole Vault – NH (0 points)
• 1000m – 2:47.70 (4th, 790 points)

                                                                                                                                                                            
NEW MEXICO COLLEGIATE CLASSIC – DAY TWO WOMEN'S RESULTS
60m – 27. Nairobi Smith 7.53; 31. Lauren Gilhooly 7.56; 39. Paige Porter 7.64; 54. Caitlyn Johnson 7.78
60m Hurdles (Prelims) – 7. Mari Testa 8.23 (Q, =PR); 14. Saqqara Ruffin 8.46 (q); 16. Inara Ukawuba 8.53 (q); 25. Fallyn Gowans 8.73 (PR)
60m Hurdles (Semis) – 8. Mari Testa 8.25 (q); 12. Inara Ukawuba 8.45 (PR, 9th Cal History); 14. Saqqara Ruffin 8.51
60m Hurdles (Final) – 5. Mari Testa 8.22 (PR, Tied-School Record)
Triple Jump – 11. Leah Anderson 12.19m/40-0; 15. Avery Hart 12.03m/39-5.75 (PR); 21. Caitlyn Johnson 11.72m/38-5.5 (PR)
 
UP NEXT
Cal will split its squad in two next week, with the distance unit returning to Seattle for the Husky Classic and the rest heading east to Reno, Nevada, for the Battle Born Classic (both Feb. 13-14).
 
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