VANCOUVER – As the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field season moves ever closer toward the conference and national championships, the UBC Thunderbirds continue to round into championship form.

Competing at several meets in the greater Los Angeles area over the weekend, the blue and gold boasted 16 'A' Standard performances and a bevy of personal bests against some of the stiffest competition they'll face all year.

"This series of meets puts us in a great position as we progress through the second half of the season," said UBC head coach, Laurier Primeau.


 
BRYAN CLAY INVITATIONAL

Hosted by Azusa Pacific University, the Bryan Clay Invitational saw the T-Birds kick off their week with a roaring start Wednesday evening.

Reigning NAIA 3000 metre steeplechase champion Dylan Uhrich set a new personal best by nearly three seconds, crossing the finish line in 8:49.44. Having already qualified for nationals in the 5000 metres, the senior T-Bird now officially has the opportunity to defend his steeple title and currently holds the number one NAIA ranking by more than 10 seconds.

Sophomore Maximilien Filion also set a new lifetime best in the steeple, running sub nine minutes for the first time clocking in at 8:59.93, ranked second behind his teammate.

Junior Thunderbird Elysse Fleming shattered her previous personal best in the women's 3000 metre steeplechase by 17 seconds with a 10:25.61, improving upon her number one NAIA ranking.

2024 NAIA women's 800 metre champion, Rachel Mortimer, has booked her ticket back to nationals to defend her title, running a 2:08.44 on Thursday. The senior from Surrey, B.C. is now the owner of the number one ranking this season, one spot ahead of fellow T-Bird Mackenzie Campbell who also clinched a berth at nationals with a 2:09.22.



Sarah MacGillivray set a new lifetime best with a 'B' Standard time of 2:13.36 while freshman Rachel McDonald also set a new PB having crossed the line in 2:16.44.

Spencer Hardy ran a personal best 1:50.62 in the men's 800 metres to make 'B' Standard in the fourth fastest time in the NAIA so far this season. Junior Devon Meadows also claimed a new PB with a 1:51.78.

Senior Amelia Pfohl shattered her previous personal best in the women's 5000 metres, her time Thursday of 16:31.70 an improvement of more than 21 seconds and currently standing as the fourth ranked time in the NAIA.

Holly MacGillivray ran 'A' Standard for the second time this season with a 16:21.28.

Jaiveer Tiwana hit 'B' Standard in the men's 5000 metres, his 14:35.81 good for provisional qualification to next month's NAIA National Championship.



Freshman Lauren Curtis earned a personal best in women's hammer throw with a top attempt reaching 52.49 metres making 'B' Standard, currently the seventh ranked distance this season.

Mortimer ran a 4:25.05 in the women's 1500, well under 'A' Standard for automatic qualification to nationals, her time currently ranked number two. Campbell's time of 4:26.64 set a new lifetime best for the junior from Kingston, Ontario, clinching a berth at nationals in the event as well. Pfohl bettered her season's best by one one-hundredth of a second, currently holding onto the sixth ranked position in the NAIA.

Uhrich made for yet another multiple PB week as the senior ran the men's 1500 metres in 3:46.17 to make 'A' Standard with the fourth fastest time in the NAIA so far in 2025. Filion continued a tremendous trip to southern California with another personal best, his time of 3:51.83 good for 'B' Standard. Tiwana also set a new personal best with a time of 3:56.60.

Marty Bajarunas took third place in men's javelin with a personal best of 61.01 metres Friday, well over the minimum 'B' Standard distance to now hold the tenth overall ranking.

Sarah MacGillivray clocked in at 4:31.28 as the middle distance specialist earned another 'B' Standard time.




CAL STATE L.A. TWILIGHT

Several UBC field event specialists headed to California State University, Los Angeles' campus Thursday for yet another series of lifetime best performances.

Sophomore Sarah Snell took home first place in women's javelin with a personal best of 44.22 metres. The 'A' Standard distance is also good for a new number two ranking in the NAIA.

Kayden U-Ming won the men's javelin, his 61.67 metre attempt the second time the freshman has thrown further than 60 metres this season.

Will Kizell won the men's discus competition with a personal best distance of 52.14 metres. Surpassing 'A' Standard, the junior has booked his ticket to Indiana to compete at the national championship for a third straight season.

Sophomore Bryce White set a new lifetime best height in men's pole vault by clearing 4.60 metres.


 

BEACH INVITATIONAL

Sonya Urbanowicz continues to push the pace in women's pole vault, the two-time defending national champion reaching a new personal best height of 4.20 metres Saturday afternoon for a new all-time NAIA record.

Hanna Sobkowich ran the best 400 metres of her life posting a 54.95 at the Beach Invitational on Saturday, clinching a berth at the national championship meet and now holding the fourth ranked time in the NAIA.

James Kerr ran the men's 400 metre hurdles in 53.13, 26 one-hundredths shy of his season best mark but still good for a seventh place finish Saturday in an overall field of 33.

"If I had to pick a run, jump and throw as highlights, I think Elysse Fleming's 17 second personal best in the steeplechase, Sonya Ubranowicz' 4.20 in the pole vault to go to number one on the NAIA all-time list, and perhaps a tie between Lauren Curtis' 52.13 lifetime best in the hammer and Sarah Snell for her 44.22 javelin toss to move into second in the NAIA this season," said Primeau.

"On the men's side, Dylan Uhrich had an incredible double, going to the top of the NAIA rankings in his steeplechase debut and coming back with a huge personal best in the 1500. Will Kizell also had a breakthrough in the discus surpassing 52 metres for the first time."

The T-Birds will return home for the remainder of the Easter long weekend but will be back below the 49^th parallel this coming Friday and Saturday for the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational meet hosted by Western Washington University.
 
PACIFIC COAST INVITATIONAL RESULTS

BRYAN CLAY INVITATIONAL RESULTS

CAL STATE L.A. TWILIGHT RESULTS

BEACH INVITATIONAL RESULTS