Rogers wears exclusive Nike kit for World champions for the first time, repeats as women’s hammer throw winner, with Hamilton rallying for men’s victory in sixth round against Knight and Lindfors prevailing in women’s discus; Alfred wins women’s 200 and anchors 4x100 for Team International, Benjamin strong in 400

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

WALNUT, Calif. – There aren’t many training groups anywhere in the world, regardless of event or discipline, that can boast having both a reigning world record holder and global gold medalist, who are not the same person.

One such remarkable collection of talent is in Berkeley, Calif., which features reigning women’s hammer throw World champion Camryn Rogers of Canada, along with the new all-time competitor in the men’s discus throw, 21-year-old Mykolas Alekna from Lithuania.

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So, even when Cal throws coach Mohamad Saatara informed meet organizers Friday at the 64th Mt. SAC Relays Presented by Nike that Alekna would not be returning to the ring less than a week after breaking the world record in Oklahoma to compete Saturday at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, his absence didn’t prevent the elite group from having a significant impact on the final day of the event.

Rogers, wearing the black and white Nike kit exclusive to World champions in competition for the first time, repeated as the women’s invitational elite hammer throw winner with a third-round effort of 250 feet, 4 inches (76.30m) at Don Ruh Grove adjacent to the school’s cross country course.

Anna Purchase, another former Cal All-American representing Great Britain, placed second behind Rogers at 231-8 (70.61m).

Rowan Hamilton, also a Canadian standout and the NAIA all-time competitor during his career at University of British Columbia before transferring to Cal for his final year of collegiate eligibility, rallied to win the men’s invitational elite hammer section with a sixth-round performance of 253-1 (77.16m) to overtake Cal State Northridge’s Trey Knight and his personal-best 252-7 (76.99m).

The Golden Bears’ success wasn’t limited only to the hammer cage, as despite Alekna’s absence, Cal still secured an invitational elite discus victory, with Swedish standout Caisa-Marie Lindfors remaining unbeaten in three competitions since transferring from Florida State with a third-round effort of 197-4 (60.15m) in the women’s section to hold off Fresno State’s Jordyn Bryant at 195-9 (59.68m).

Alekna, who produced a throw of 243-11 (74.35m) to achieve the world all-time performance April 14 at the Oklahoma Throws World Invitational at Millican Field in Ramona, had the potential to eclipse one of the longest-standing meet records at the Mt. SAC Relays, with Ben Plucknett’s discus mark of 227-7 (69.36m) having stood since 1983.

In Alekna’s absence, Jamaican athlete Ralford Mullings – competing unattached for Oklahoma – triumphed in the men’s invitational elite discus section with a fourth-round effort of 211-4 (64.43m), just ahead of American standout Turner Washington at 208-9 (63.64m).

Another training group that boasts a current World champion is Team International, which is led by Texas coach Edrick Floreal and is training in Austin, with reigning women’s indoor 60-meter dash gold medalist Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia.

Alfred led a sweep of the top three spots in the invitational elite 200 in a wind-legal 22.58, followed by Irish athlete Rhasidat Adeleke in 22.61 and British competitor Dina Asher-Smith in 22.80.

Lanae-Tava Thomas joined the trio to triumph in the invitational elite 4x100 relay in 42.03, prevailing against the Formula Kersee quartet of Keni Harrison, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Jenna Prandini and Morolake Akinosun, which clocked 42.93.

Akinosun returned to win the women’s invitational elite 100-meter dash in a wind-legal 11.14, with Oregon standout Jadyn Mays placing second in 11.19.

Rai Benjamin, a Nike professional athlete, was impressive in his outdoor season opener by clocking 44.42 seconds in the men’s invitational elite 400 meters.

Arizona State’s Justin Robinson was runner-up to Benjamin in 45.49, with Brian Herron of Texas winning his section in 45.48.

In a showdown of former USC All-Americans, Bailey Lear triumphed in the women’s invitational elite 400 in 51.00, ahead of New Balance professional competitor Kendall Ellis in 51.25.

USC’s quartet of Travis Williams, Max Thomas, JC Stevenson and Johnnie Blockburger won the men’s invitational elite 4x100 by running 38.77 to edge the Thailand national team in 38.85.

Stevenson also prevailed in the men’s invitational elite long jump with a wind-legal leap of 26-5 (8.05m) in the third round.

Talie Bonds, a former Arizona All-American representing VS Athletics, secured back-to-back victories in the women’s invitational elite 100 hurdles in a wind-legal 12.76, holding off Oregon’s Aaliyah McCormick in 12.81.

Tade Ojora, a former USC All-American and British competitor, emerged victorious in the men’s invitational elite 110 hurdles against Houston’s De’Vion Wilson by a wind-legal 13.48 to 13.49 margin.

Kyree King, a Nike competitor, rebounded from a fourth-place finish in the invitational elite 100 in a wind-legal 10.12 to triumph in the 200, running 20.11 into a headwind.

Terrance Laird of adidas finished second in 20.26 and Thomas took third for USC in 20.58.

Cooper Bibbs, a former Cal State Fullerton standout representing S.H.A.R.K.S. Elite, prevailed in the men’s invitational elite 100 with a wind-legal 10.07. Puripol Bonsoon of the Thailand national team was second in 10.08.

Sammy Watson, an adidas competitor, won the women’s invitational elite 800 in 2:02.25, with Utah’s Josefine Eriksen placing second in 2:03.69.

Jesus Tonatiu Lopez, the Mexican national record holder representing HOKA, was victorious in the men’s invitational elite 800 in 1:45.51. Former Texas Tech standout and Moroccan athlete Moad Zahafi placed second in 1:45.96, with Nike competitor and American Isaiah Jewett taking third in 1:46.03 and British performer Yusuf Bizimana from Texas earning fourth in 1:46.18.

Washington freshman Hana Moll enjoyed an impactful debut competing at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, clearing 15-1 (4.60m) on her first opportunity to triumph in the women’s invitational elite pole vault.

Zach Bradford, an American competitor representing Nike, won the men’s invitational elite pole vault with a third-attempt clearance at 18-9.25 (5.72m).

South Dakota’s Jacy Pulse surged over the final two barriers to secure the win in the women’s invitational elite 400 hurdles in 56.17, with Colorado’s Abbey Glynn clocking 56.41.

James Smith II, an Arizona graduate, held off former Illinois All-American David Kendziera by a 49.27 to 49.31 margin in the men’s invitational elite 400 hurdles.

Arizona State, the reigning NCAA Division 1 indoor champion in the men’s 4x400-meter relay, was tested by South Florida, but Gamali Felix, Jayden Davis, Kaleb Simpson and Robinson triumphed by a 3:03.56 to 3:03.60 margin.

Colorado’s Joy Moorer, Emma Pollak, Avery McMullen and Glynn was victorious in the women’s invitational elite 4x400 in 3:33.76.

Madisen Richards, who competed at the Mt. SAC Relays both as a prep athlete at Simi Valley High as well as during her All-American career at USC, returned to Hilmer Lodge Stadium to capture a win in the women’s invitational elite long jump with a wind-aided fifth-round effort of 21-8.25 (6.61m).

Oregon standout Alysah Hickey, last year’s invitational elite winner, took second with an opening-round mark of 21-1.25 (6.43m) in her season opener.

USC’s Temitope Ojora, representing Nigeria, earned the win in the women’s invitational elite triple jump with a wind-legal performance of 44-1.50 (13.45m) in the fourth round. Fresno State’s Rachela Pace, competing for Malta, achieved a wind-legal mark of 43-6 (13.26m) in the second round.

Brandon Green, Jr. of Oklahoma rallied in the sixth round in the men’s invitational elite triple jump with a wind-legal effort of 55 feet (16.76m) to surpass Chris Benard of Chula Vista Elite Athletes Training Center and his fifth-round mark of 54-10 (16.71m).

The Texas tandem of Chrystal Herpin and German competitor Nina Ndubuisi secured the top two spots in the women’s invitational elite shot put.

Herpin grabbed the win with a mark of 57-7.50 (17.56m) and Ndubuisi achieved an effort of 56-9.25 (17.30m).

Illinois teammates Bara Sajdokova of the Czech Republic and Rose Yeboah, representing Ghana, both cleared 6-1.50 (1.87m) on their first attempts to share top honors in the women’s invitational elite high jump.

Sarvesh Kushare from India achieved a second-attempt clearance at 7-3.75 (2.23m) to prevail in the men’s invitational elite high jump.

Wictor Petersson of Sweden was victorious in the men’s invitational elite shot put with a sixth-round performance of 66-2.25 (20.17m).