Los Angeles, CA – The crosstown rivals split the Track Meet at Loker Stadium with a anticlimactic finish with both men’s and women’s USC 4x400m relays teams running unopposed.
Those final results gave the USC women the 86-77 win and the Trojan men lost by a score of 88-75. This was the last dual meet before PAC-12 Championships in Oregon on May 13-14.
The fans did some great battles throughout the meet, with Dior Hall, Ky Westbrook, Destinee Brown and Deanna Hill who won the 4x100m with a season-best time of 43.84 to start off the track events.
The men’s battle was tight call after USC Marquis Morris jumped out for quick lead on first leg but once hit third leg coming off the turn UCLA Darnell Roberson closed the gap. Then the footrace left USC with narrow victory for 5 points.
UCLA Junior Leon Powell let the Trojans know that they were here too as he stormed the 100m straightaway to victory and snapped a 14-year Trojan winning streak in the event. He posted a lifetime best of 10.26.
Alexander Barnum had a PR of 10.32 (+0.9) to take second and Christian Sourapas a PR of 10.37 (+0.9) to place third for USC right behind Powell. All three runners benefited from a tight competitive race.
UCLA took advantage of its depth and talent in the distance races to secure precious points for the men’s team.
Anna Cockrell won the 110m women’s hurdles with a PR of 12.91 (+1.1) to lead a USC sweep in the event gaining big points.
USC’s women got another sweep in the 400m hurdles as Amalie Iuel won with a time of 55.62, Cockrell took second with a time of 55.86 and Mecca McGlaston took third with a time of 61.38, her first collegiate 400m hurdles race.
Senior Sage Stone led the way to a Bruin sweep in the men’s high jump with his clearance of 6-10.75 after the favorite USC 2016 NCAA defending champion Randall Cunningham was off his game.
UCLA Jessie Maduka went on to lead a sweep in the women’s triple jump with junior Efe Age (38-10.50) and sophomore Lilliana Hebert (38-04.25).
It was great for the fans to see both teams competing with great sportsmanship. Both teams excelling in their events with plenty of sweeps for both schools.
Now the next test will be how well can these team compete in Oregon on the road to the PAC-12 Title.
