Owls Have Stellar Weekend at Victor Lopez Classic

Thursday, March 26

Houston, Texas

Rice University

Victor Lopez Classic

Owls Have Stellar Weekend at Victor Lopez Classic

3/28/2026 10:23:00 PM | Women's Track & Field

By: Anthony Roberts (ar186@rice.edu)

HOUSTON – The Rice women's track and field team had a tremendous weekend in front of their home crowd at the 43^rd annual Victor Lopez Classic at the Wendel D. Ley track.

Mckyla Van der Westhuizen opened her senior season with a bang, winning the javelin by setting the best mark in the nation with a 59.06m throw. Emily Harbach had a tremendous collegiate debut, finishing second in the javelin with a throw of 52.65m.

Julia Johannesdottir broke the school record in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.41, just surpassing the previous mark of 13.42 set in 2007.

Josie Taylor and Alice Taylor were also event winners in the high jump with clearances of 1.77m, the best clearance in the American and tying for the ninth best in the NCAA.

Rice's 4x400m relay team claimed the final event title of the night, behind Arayna Mickles, Petra Taylor, Sydney Freeman and Barbora Malíková with the second-fast mark in the American of 3:41.65.

Malikova also finished first in the 200m with a time of 24.00s. Saniya Friendly had a strong showing in the 100m, finishing with a time of 11.79 to take second.

Post Meet Reaction - Head Coach Jim Bevan
"Wow, what a tremendous meet. I am so pleased with how we performed all around. You have to start the highlights with Mckyla, now leading the nation in the javelin after a phenomenal 59-meter throw. We also had a great freshman debut from Emily Harbach with a 52-meter throw. What a duo that is going to be for us this season. You also have to highlight Julia for breaking Funmi Jimoh's 100m hurdle school record today. What a tremendous race for her. Josie and Alice again got the job done in the high jump, with the sisters finishing first for the event. Our 4x400 was incredible, with all four legs running really, really fast for us. Also great races from Saniya and Barbora, running really fast in the 100m and the 200m. Overall, this was a great showing to see where we stack up across all events. I am looking forward to the Texas Relays next weekend to see us go up against the top competition in the nation."

RESULTS (Top finishers)
100m
2. Saniya Friendly – 11.79

100m Hurdles
2. Julia Johannesdottir – 13.41
5. Sydney Freeman – 14.15
6. Mikayla Wills – 14.18
9. Alexis Tarlue – 15.27

200m
1. Barbora Malíková – 24.00
10. Julia Johannesdottir – 25.01

400m
3. Arayna Mickles – 54.35

400m Hurdles
5. Eva Vreeland – 1:04.91

800m
4. Cullen Merrell – 2:09.51
7. Cici Calhoun – 2:13.92

1500m
3. Miranda Schriver – 4:30.61
6. Heidi Nielson – 4:32.85

5000m
5. Sutton Walsh – 18:42.18

4x400
1. Mickles, Taylor, Freeman, Malikova – 3:41.65

4x100
1. Freeman, Mickles, Taylor, Friendly – 45.44

Hammer Throw
4. Alexandra Toney – 51.16m / 167-10

High Jump
1. Alice Taylor – 1.77m / 5-09.75
1. Josie Taylor – 1.77m / 5-09.75
5. Marsibil Hafsteinsdottir – 1.62m / 5-03.75

Javelin
1. Mckyla Van der Westhuizen – 59.06m / 193-09.00
2. Emily Harbach – 52.65m / 172.09.00
4. Elena Schwegman – 45.54m / 149-05.00
6. Laura Duckhorn – 40.16m / 131.09.00

Long Jump
5. Laura Duckhorn – 5.48m / 17-11.75
7. Julia Johannesdottir – 5.44m / 17-10.25
8. Alexis Tarlue – 5.38m / 17-08.00

Pole Vault
5. Sima Ashkinezer – 3.74m / 12-03.25
6. Lauren Schmitt – 3.62m / 11-10.50
8. Sydney Rothman – 3.62m / 11-10.50

Shot Put
7. Laura Duckhorn – 12.56m / 41-02.50

Triple Jump
5. Araoluwa Odelowo – 11.19m / 36-08.50
7. Alexis Tarlue – 10.66m / 34-11.75

UP NEXT
The Owls are back on the road for the Texas Relays next week.