BERKELEY – Competing at Edwards Stadium for the first time in 364 days, it took Mykolas Alekna just two throws of the discus to give California track & field fans what they were expecting to see: another record.
 
Surprisingly, it wasn't one that the world record-holder already possessed. At last year's Brutus Hamilton Invitational, Alekna – competing unattached in a gray top and black shorts – opened his season with a throw of 71.39m (234-2) to break the stadium and meet records. During his first two years as a collegian, he re-set the collegiate record multiple times, ending up with a best mark of 71.00m (232-11) that naturally also set a new conference record.
 
The Pac-12, that is. Not the ACC.
 
Now, a second conference record belongs to Alekna, as his throw of 70.09m (229-11) at Saturday's iteration of the Brutus Hamilton Invitational shattered the previous mark of 67.02m (219-10) posted by Virginia Tech's Claudio Romero in 2022 – and made him the new 2025 World leader.
 
Alekna's achievement was just the cherry on top of an outstanding day for the Golden Bear throwers. Rookie Valentina Savva broke the Cyprus U23 hammer record with a winning throw of 68.73m (225-6) – smashing Cal's previous freshman record set by 2024 Olympic champion Camryn Rogers in 2018 by over 10 feet. Giavonna Meeks, who earned indoor All-America honors earlier this year, placed second in the event with a personal-best throw of 66.93m (219-7) to open her outdoor campaign at No. 4 in program history, while Audrey Jacobs took third at 64.13m (210-4).
 
In the men's hammer, Jared Freeman improved his standing on Cal's all-time list to No. 7, finishing second to alumnus Kegan Schroeter's lifetime-best 70.75m (232-1) with his throw of 66.90m (219-6), while freshman Kai Barham improved his collegiate best to a third-place 59.53m (195-3). Freeman also took second place in the discus with a mark of 52.04m (170-9), while Charlie Dang finished third at 51.00m (167-4) – a mark that he achieved right after winning the men's javelin competition with a nearly-nine-foot PR of 63.55m (208-6) that was the 10th-farthest throw in program history.
 
Newcomer Lucija Leko moved up to No. 3 on Cal's all-time shot put list with her winning mark of 16.44m (53-11.25) in the women's contest. Nick Godbehere claimed the men's shot put title for the Bears, recording a throw of 17.72m (58-1.75), while teammate Nik Iwankiw took second at 16.47m (54-0.5). Finally, 2024 Olympian Caisa-Marie Lindfors and Leko took second and third, respectively, in the women's discus with marks of 60.99m (200-1) and 55.74m (182-10)
 
"It was a great meet," said assistant coach Mohamad Saatara, who leads the throws unit. "It was a good step in the right direction – I'm really proud of the team and how well they competed today."
 
The Bears also recorded three program top-10 times on the track, with two of those coming in the women's 100m hurdles. Asjah Atkinson – the day's winner – posted a PR of .11 seconds to finish in 13.25 and rise to No. 4 all-time at Cal, while Saqqara Ruffin claimed sole possession of the No. 10 spot with a third-place time of 13.75 (Mari Testa finished second with a time of 13.64). To the surprise of no one, Johnny Goode had another outstanding day in the 400m, improving his own program No. 4 time to 45.82 and winning the race by over 1.3 seconds. Jaymie Ruskovich rounded out Cal's top-three finishers in the sprints, placing third in the women's 200m with a time of 24.37.
 
Cal also acquitted itself well in the distance events. The Bears swept the podium in the men's 5000m, courtesy of Sam Franco (14:37.65), Roland Ruckmann-Barnes (14:46.63) and Julian Doak (14:47.00); they did so again in the men's 800m thanks to Garrett MacQuiddy (1:50.11), Justin Pretre (1:50.69) and Lamarr Kirk Jr. (1:51.18) and also took two of the top-three spots in the men's mile (Zac Gibson, 4:09.16 – second place; Caden Carney, 4:12.03 – third place). Zoe Lahanas was the standout of the afternoon on the women's side, winning the 800m with a time of 2:09.55.
 
The day's ninth and final program top-10 entry belonged to Myla Canty, who won the women's triple jump and made her debut on the school's outdoor all-time list at No. 9 (13.13m/43-1). Cal's other top-three finishers in the horizontal jumps included Yuki Hamachi (third, women's long jump, 5.70m/18-8.5), Brandon Cheeks II (second, men's long jump, 6.96m/22-10), Kosi Nwafor (third, men's long jump, 6.90m/22-7.75) and Jeremiah Bolaños (third, men's triple jump, 14.70m/48-2.75). Tyler Burns and Parker Terrill went 1-2 in the men's pole vault with matching marks of 5.17m (16-11.5), while Ali Sahaida claimed the women's title with a leap of 4.25m (13-11.25).
 
 
BRUTUS HAMILTON INVITATIONAL DAY 3 – MEN'S RESULTS
100m – 7. Aidan Orias 10.69 (PR); 12. Javon Hampton Jr. 10.78; 16. Jason Plumb 10.81 (PR); 18. Wazell Wright 10.81; 46. Jakobi Smith 11.07; T57. Aaron Yang 11.20
200m – 4. Aiden Lippert 21.29; 14. Aidan Orias 21.97 (PR); 32. Jakobi Smith 22.52; 65. Aaron Yang 23.35
400m – 1. Johnny Goode 45.82 (PR, 4th Cal History); 11. Avinash Schwarzkopf 48.60
800m – 1. Garrett MacQuiddy 1:50.11; 2. Justin Pretre 1:50.69 (PR); 3. Lamarr Kirk Jr. 1:51.18 (collegiate PR); 7. Gabriel Rodriguez 1:52.61 (collegiate PR)
Mile – 2. Zac Gibson 4:09.16 (PR); 3. Caden Carney 4:12.03 (PR); 8. Rowan FitzGerald 4:19.68 (PR)
5000m – 1. Sam Franco 14:37.65 (PR); 2. Roland Ruckmann-Barnes 14:46.63; 3. Julian Doak 14:47.00 (PR); 4. Alexander Lodewick 14:47.58 (PR); 7. Antoine Moret 14:57.71 (Cal PR); 9. Dylan Bissell 15:19.59
110m Hurdles – 3. Donovan Bradley 14.28; 4. Matt Gladney 14.84
400m Hurdles – 4. Luke Tanguay 55.29; 5. Daniel Chen 55.49; 12. Owen Foley 56.66 (PR)
4x100m – - California DNF (Aidan Orias, Johnny Goode, Jakobi Smith, Avinash Schwarzkopf)
High Jump – T6. Victor Ezike Jr. 1.95m/6-4.75; T6. Brandon Cheeks II 1.95m/6-4.75
Pole Vault – 1. Tyler Burns 5.17m16-11.5; T2. Parker Terrill 5.17m/16-11.5; 4. Will Siemens 5.02m/16-5.5; 10. Luke Millam 4.42m/14-6 (PR); - David Brok NH
Long Jump – 2. Brandon Cheeks II 6.96m/22-10; 3. Kosi Nwafor 6.90m/22-7.75 (PR); 4. Jeremiah Bolaños 6.88m/22-7; 19. Frankie Cruz Jr. 5.67m/18-7.25 (collegiate PR); - Brandon Rush NM
Triple Jump – 3. Jeremiah Bolaños 14.70m/48-2.75
Shot Put – 1. Nick Godbehere 17.72m/58-1.75; 2. Nik Iwankiw 16.47m/54-0.5
Discus – 1. Mykolas Alekna 70.09m/229-11 (World Lead, ACC Record); 2. Jared Freeman 52.04m/170-9 (Cal PR); 3. Charlie Dang 51.00m/167-4; 4. Nick Godbehere 49.67m/162-11; 8. Nik Iwankiw 47.92m/157-2
Hammer – 2. Jared Freeman 66.90m/219-6 (PR, 7th Cal History); 3. Kai Barham 59.53m/195-3 (PR); 6. Kai Burich 54.85m/179-11 (Cal PR)
Javelin – 1. Charlie Dang 63.55m/208-6 (PR, 10th Cal History)
 
BRUTUS HAMILTON INVITATIONAL DAY 3 – WOMEN'S RESULTS
100m – 4. Mari Testa 12.03; 5. Jaymie Ruskovich 12.05; 10. Saqqara Ruffin 12.23; 11. Masina Mayo 12.25; 23. Fallyn Gowans 12.72
200m – 3. Jaymie Ruskovich 24.37; 6. Masina Mayo 24.63 (PR); 8. Nairobi Smith 24.70
400m – 3. Jayden Hill 56.28; 4. Nairobi Smith 56.78 (PR)
800m – 1. Zoe Lahanas 2:09.55 (PR); 5. Carolina Dawson 2:11.52 (PR)
100m Hurdles – 1. Asjah Atkinson 13.25 (PR, 4th Cal History); 2. Mari Testa 13.64; 3. Saqqara Ruffin 13.75 (PR, 10th Cal History); 5. Fallyn Gowans 14.29 (PR)
400m Hurdles – 2. Loreal Wilson 59.57; 10. Jaya Westby 1:04.80
4x100m – 2. California 45.84 (Masina Mayo, Jaymie Ruskovich, Mari Testa, Nairobi Smith)
High Jump – T5. Jade Neser 1.65m/5-5 (PR); T12. Adriana Ellard 1.60m/5-3 (=PR); - Mara Lampsas NH
Pole Vault – 1. Ali Sahaida 4.25m/13-11.25
Long Jump – 3. Yuki Hamachi 5.70m/18-8.5; 8. Jade Neser 5.48m/17-11.75
Triple Jump – 1. Myla Canty 13.13m/43-1 (PR, 9th Cal History)
Shot Put – 1. Lucija Leko 16.44m/53-11.25 (PR, 3rd Cal History)
Discus – 2. Caisa-Marie Lindfors 60.99m/200-1; 3. Lucija Leko 55.74m/182-10; 7. Adrianna Coleman 44.12m/144-9; 9. Amanda Spear 42.29m/138-9
Hammer – 1. Valentina Savva 68.73m/225-6 (PR, 3rd Cal History, Cal Freshman Record); 2. Giavonna Meeks 66.93m/219-7 (PR, 4th Cal History); 3. Audrey Jacobs 64.13m/210-4; 4. Adrianna Coleman 58.92m/193-3; 7. Amanda Spear 54.48m/178-9
Javelin – 12. Adriana Ellard 32.18m/105-7; 14. Yuki Hamachi 29.96m/98-3
 
UP NEXT
Mykolas Alekna will return to the site of his world-record throw, competing in the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational in Ramona, Oklahoma, on April 13, while the Bears will wait another week before splitting their squad between the Mt. SAC Relays (Walnut) and the Bryan Clay Invitational (Azusa) on April 17-19.
 
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