FULLERTON, Calif. – The University of California, Riverside track and field team returned to action on Friday night after a 371 day hiatus.  The time off for those who competed at the Ben Brown Invitational hosted by CSU Fullerton (CSUF) was time well spent.
 
Making his UC Riverside debut, Freshman Andrew Jackson won a competitive men's 800m field, which featured strong opponents from UCLA and CSUF, among others.  Jackson jumped out to the early lead and led the entire first lap of the two-lap race.  Down the backstretch of the final lap, Jackson was challenged and passed by several racers from other teams.  Not to be denied, Jackson swung wide on the home stretch and hammered home the last 100m to edge out Justin Larson of Fullerton.  Jackson's winning time of 1:54.04 is only .10 off of his lifetime best; a great way to start his collegiate career.  "I am really proud of the way Andrew battled today.  He was aggressive over the first lap of the race and responded really well to a strong challenge in the closing stages of his race," complimented Director of Track and Field Nate Browne.  
 
Not to be outdone, Redshirt Senior Arman Irani made his season debut in the men's 5000m.  This field was loaded with talented competition and Arman took full advantage.  From the early stages, Irani put himself into fourth position, sitting within striking distance of the race leaders from California Baptist University (CBU).  Arman was able to clock very consistent splits throughout the race and made some competitive moves over the final kilometer of the race.  In a mad dash over the final lap and a half, Irani was able to weave through competitors and kick his way to a second place finish.  Arman's finishing time of 14:11.52 now ranks ninth in program history and was just one second shy of winner Giedrius Valincius of CBU (14:10.43).  In the "B" section of the men's 5000m, the Highlanders were led by transfer Redshirt Freshman Sean Caster, who missed his lifetime best by only two seconds, stopping the clock at 15:26.63.  "Arman was sensational tonight.  I was pretty surprised with how comfortable he looked throughout the race, knowing where his current fitness is.  He looked like a true veteran out there and he competed extremely well to earn this huge lifetime best," distance coach Rob Hansen remarked.
 
In the women's 5000m, Carolinh Calvert and Dariana Miramontes made their UCR debuts.  Both ladies got off to a strong start, positioning themselves in the top-ten of the race.  Calvert was able to close the last three laps of her 5000m in extraordinary fashion, making her way past several competitors and clocking her four fastest laps as her last laps.  Calvert crossed the finish line in 17:01.71, good enough for eighth all-time at UCR.  Miramontes held steady in the closing stages of the race, finishing at 17:44.66.  Calvert's time was 1:46 seconds faster than her previous lifetime best and Miramontes was 26 seconds ahead of her previous best.  After the race Coach Hansen said, "I cannot say enough about the effort from both of these ladies.  Dari had an excellent debut, and I thought she showed nice grit through the tough parts of the race. With Carolinh – I don't know.  Not too many people make their college debut in such a fashion.  She was poised, she was under control, she followed the race plan, listened to cues and competed with her whole heart.  I am extremely proud of both of them!"  
 
In the throws circle, Shiloh Corrales-Nelson made her collegiate outdoor debut, throwing the hammer 46.99m (154'2").  

For video highlights from the day, please click here.