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Track and field senior aims to make lasting imprint in final year …
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The seniors want to leave Westwood having accomplished something they can look back proudly upon.?{{more: continue …}}UCLA track and field?s roster consists of 23 seniors who will don a Bruin uniform for one more season.??
For some athletes ? such as redshirt senior sprinter Leon Powell ? the proximity to meets brings them closer to home and gives their families an opportunity to see them in action on the biggest stage.
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The 2019 NCAA championships will be held in Austin, Texas ? roughly a three-hour drive from Powell?s hometown of Kennedale, Texas.?
?Being from Texas, that?s the track where I ran my fastest time my freshman year,? Powell said. ?It?s also the track where I won state four times in high school and it?s where my family is from, so I think that I?m looking forward to that and having my family and friends come out, support, and potentially watch my last race of college.?
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After not participating in the 2018 season, Powell placed fifth in his first two meets of the year in the 200 meter with times of 21.62 and 21.70 seconds, respectively.
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Powell said he is looking to continue developing from strides made during the 2017 season in which he placed first in the 200 m at the Pac-12 vs. Big Ten Challenge and posted a personal record of 20.75 seconds at the DI NCAA West Preliminary Round.
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?Taking a year off was really a difference of being in a competitive mode and competing every week,? Powell said. ?I think that I?ll be able to see my hard work in practice week to week as I compete.??
Some of his career highlights …
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2014?- graduate of Kennedale High School where he ran for head track coach Leon Paul. Earned a state titles in the 200m, 4×100 and 4×200 as Kennedale won a state title in the same year in track and field. Won a state title in 2013 in the 4x100m.
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2015?- NCAA qualifier at UCLA as a true freshman … placed seventh at the MPSF Championships in the 60m with a time of 6.93 ? Won his first collegiate meet in the 60m with a time of 6.80 at the Lumberjack Invitational ? Posted his fastest indoor 60m time of 6.68 at the New Mexico Team Invitational ? Made the semifinal round of the 200m at the World University Games in South Korea … Was an alternate on the 4x100m relay at the Pan-Am Junior Championships ? Placed fifth in the 100m at the USATF Junior Championships.
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2016 ? Named Pac-12 All Academic honorable mention, a NCAA West Prelim qualifier in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay -Placed fifth at the Pac-12 Championships in the 100m with a time of 10.59 ? Finished sixth in the 200m with a time of 21.52 ? Ran the anchor leg on the 4x100m that placed fourth with a time of 40.22 – Won the Bruin Legends Invitational in the 100m with a season best time of 10.41 ? Ran the anchor leg on the winning 4x100m relay that crossed the line in 40.85 ? Won the 100m at the Jim Bush Collegiate with a time of 10.42 ? Also won the 200m in a time of 21.20 … Clocked a personal best in the 200m with a time of 20.94 to place second in the dual meet against Texas A&M ? Ran a 10.44 to win the 100m against the Aggies ? The relay team finished second with a time of 41.22 … Placed fifth at the MPSF Championships in the 60m with a time of 6.78 – MPSF Indoor All-Academic selection.?
2017 – USTFCCCA All-American Honorable Mention in the 4x100m relay … ran the anchor leg of the 4x100m relay at the NCAA Championships … finished fifth in the 100m at the Pac-12 Championships … tripled at the MPSF Indoor Championships, finishing fifth in the 60m dash (6.77), sixth in the 200m (21.46), and fifth in the 4x400m (season-best 3:12.50) – MPSF Indoor All-Academic selection.
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2018 ? Redshirted with injury – Honored at the 2018 UCLA scholar-athlete banquet with the Bruin Leadership Award, given to student-athletes who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make a significant impact on the UCLA student-athlete experience by demonstrating outstanding service to others and within the community.
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Leon is the son of Leon Powell Sr. and Sylvia Powell. He has a twin sister, Deandrea, who runs track at San Jose State.??
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