The Legends Invitational began Friday afternoon at Drake Stadium with the stands almost completely empty. Mostly high school athletes performed, and the atmosphere hardly lived up to the meet’s name.
But as the weekend progressed into the final rounds on Saturday, so did the meet’s grandeur. The stands began to abound with spectators, and several UCLA track and field athletes started to live up to the epic title of the meet.
The one thing that seemed to be apparent throughout the whole meet was a theme of absolute progression.
Freshman Idrees Bernard reached a new career best in the long jump, showing an improvement over his first few meets. Redshirt senior Ida Storm showed her growth by achieving a season best in the women’s hammer throw. Redshirt junior thrower Nicholas Scarvelis improved on his previous high mark in the shot put, achieving a career best at 19.82 meters.
In total, seven Bruins progressed to reach their career bests at the Legends Invitational, with Bernard’s performance perhaps being a microcosm of the whole meet.
The 18-year-old freshman from Agoura Hills High School made the most of each of his attempts in the long jump. But starting off on his first jump Saturday, Bernard was a little shaky.
“I was a little slow on the first jump but definitely knew I had a lot more in me,” Bernard said. “Today was awesome, perfect weather for jumping and I just used that.”
His next jump was a big improvement from the last, but still nothing reminiscent of what was to come. Still, Bernard stayed on course and focused on progression.
“I was just really happy to get all my jumps progressing you know, and working with my coaches to make little changes to my jumps here and there,” Bernard said.
With his usual, swift running start, just seconds after his legs were fully extended in mid air, he collapsed in the sand. All of a sudden, the voice of the public address announcer filled Drake Stadium.
He said Bernard had just achieved a lifetime best of 23-11.75, unleashing cheers from the Drake Stadium crowd.
Bernard still had one more jump left. When his turn came again, silence consumed the long jump pit. He started his run, took his steps, and again, he was in the sand with his body fully extended. The jump looked clean. Moments later, a sense of excitement surfaced in the bleachers as the announcer spoke again.
“That’s a second lifetime best for Idrees Bernard with a jump of 24-0.75,” he said. “Wow!”
Shock was evident in the announcer’s voice. Bernard commented on what it felt like to achieve a new personal record two times in a row.
“It’s hard because you want to be as calm and relaxed as you can, but you also want to be super amped up to use that adrenaline to go out and jump far. It was just having fun really,” Bernard said.
Also noteworthy is the fact that Bernard is primarily a triple jumper. He did not participate in the triple jump this week as he was recovering from shin soreness. Bernard said he looks to take his momentum from long jump into the the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational on Saturday.
“My shins have been bothering me a little bit, so I decided to take this week off and focus on long jump this week,” Bernard said. “(I) feel pretty good about my jumps today so I think I can get some big jumps out next week. Especially (with) it being another home meet.”
The freshman’s personal best for the triple jump is just more than 49 feet. But his ambitions extend beyond the realm of jumps.
“I’d like to get on the (4×100-meter relays) too,” he said. “I was always on the (4×100-meter relay team) growing up, so not being on the (4×100-meter relay team) feels kind of weird. I’d like to think I have some wheels.”
Prior to the Legends Invitational, freshman sprinter Leon Powell said UCLA track and field’s freshman recruit class is one of the best that the Bruins have had. This weekend, Bernard further validated that statement.
Storm’s hammer
The meet began with the women’s hammer throw on Friday at noon. Storm led the charge for the Bruins in this event, taking first place. Her mark of 213-6 feet secured the second-best in the country along with a new season best.
Being ranked the highest seed coming into the competition, Storm was the last thrower in each of the first three rounds. As she let the hammer go on her first throw, it took a distance just short of the 131-foot mark. Knowing the throw was not even close to her best, Storm stepped out through the front of the ring and had her mark scratched – a common occurrence when throwers are displeased with their mark.
As the next throwers continued, Storm seemed to keep her calm, even as competition was thrown her way. Cortney Miller of UNLV let out a huge throw of 185 feet to take the lead early on. Just moments after, Storm stepped into the ring.
From that point forward, Storm took over.
She stole the lead with her second throw with a mark of 188.7 feet, and ended up nearly improving her mark on the next four throws.
“The warm ups are good but usually there shouldn’t be this type of progress. I guess it was just nerves at first but indeed it was great progression,” Storm said.
The Bruins will continue their outdoor season at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational Saturday at Drake Stadium. Events will begin at 11 a.m.