UCLA Women Beat No. 2 USC 92-71 For First Dual Meet Win Since 2013; Bruin Men Win By A Single Point Over No. 1 Trojans

Story and photos by Keenan Gray of DyeStat

LOS ANGELES - Joanna Hayes didn't want to jinx it, but she knew something great was coming for UCLA in their annual dual meet with USC.

Her instincts were correct. The Bruins came to play.

For the first time in 12 years, and in Hayes' first year as the director of the track and field program, UCLA completed an unlikely sweep over both of USC's nationally ranked squads on Sunday at Drake Stadium.

The UCLA women knocked off No. 2 USC convincingly 92-71, while the men hung on for a one-point win over No. 1 USC 82-81.

The women's team won 12 of 19 events and the men's team won seven events.

"They're ranked No. 1 and 2 in the country; they got all the depth, all the numbers," Hayes said. "This was important to me because I said this year the dual meet for me is going to be it and then we are going to do what we can do at championships."

Naomi Johnson's upset win in the women's 200 meter shifted the momentum towards the Bruins when she and Taylor Snaer finished first and second ahead of USC's Dajaz Defrand, the reigning NCAA indoor champion for the 60.

After finishing third and fourth in the 100, Johnson ran a personal best 22.91 seconds and Snaer ran 23.06 to secure eight crucial points for UCLA to help carry them over USC.

"I PR'd in both the 100 and 200 and to win the meet, I couldn't have asked for anything better," Johnson said.

Lyvante Su'emai got the day going for UCLA, winning the women's hammer with a mark of 58.91 meters (193-3), followed by Valentina Fakrogha in high jump (1.74m/5-8.5).

Mia Kane earned the first win on the track for UCLA in the women's 1,500 in 4:26.76, then later won the steeplechase in 10:17.27. 

Yanla Ndjip-Nyemeck earned a close 100 hurdles win over USC's Nonah Waldron in 13.01 to 13.03, creating a spark for Sonia Virk to win the women's 400 hurdles for UCLA in 57.11.

Rose Pittman won the 800 (2:06.96) and Annika Salz won the 3,000 (9:57.02) to complete the distance sweep for the Bruins.

Jana van Schalkwyk broke a UCLA record in the women's javelin, throwing 54.40m (178-5); Ka'leila Abrille set a meet record in the pole vault, clearing 4.41m (14-5.5); and Sydney Johnson won the women's long jump with a mark of 6.22m (20-5).

USC's Madison Whyte broke the meet record in the women's 400 in 50.78 and Samirah Moody tied TeeTee Terry's meet record in the 100, winning in 11.09. The 4x400 relay team ended the day with a meet and facility record in 3:27.72.

USC’s Ashley Erasmus broke her own school record in the women’s shot put, throwing an NCAA No. 7 mark of 17.93m (58-10).

The men's team race was decided following the long jump competition. Reigning NCAA outdoor long jump champion JC Stevenson of USC had a chance to put the Trojans ahead going into the 4x400 relay, but a foul on his last jump sealed the team win for UCLA.

However, the one point that ultimately gave UCLA its first win over USC since 2023 came from Ameen Tokhi in the men's 100, which coach Hayes said was her moment of the meet after he ran 10.56 to finish third. It was also the only point UCLA got from an individual sprinting event.

"Ameen with that point, killed it," Hayes said. "He had a huge seasons best."

Tamaal Myers II took it to USC's star hurdler Johnny Brackins in the men's 400 hurdles, fighting back the last 50 meters to win in 50.46.

Aaron Cantu and Michael Mireles both earned distance wins for UCLA, with Cantu winning the men's steeplechase in 9:31.10 and Mireles in the 3,000 in a school record 8:15.66.

UCLA won four events in the field; Kris Emig in the men's hammer, throwing 69.95m (229-6); Cade Sommers in the men's pole vault at 4.90m (16-0.75); Michael Pinckney in men's discus, throwing 60.01m (196-10); and Jeremy Zammit in men's long jump, jumping 7.58m (24-10.5).

USC’s Garrett Kaalund and Williams Jones finished first and second, respectively, in the men’s 400, running times of 44.73 and 44.76 to move to No. 2 and No. 4 in the NCAA to highlight the Trojans’ day. 

USC’S Nathan Cumberbatch earned the men’s 1500 and 800 double, running 3:43.55 and 1:48.12, respectively.