Records fell this weekend as the Arizona track teams stormed through Westwood, Calif., and Austin, Texas.
Arizona junior thrower Sean Shields broke the school record in the shot put Saturday at the UCLA-hosted Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational and boasts the farthest throw in the country at 65 feet 7 3/4 inches.
The throw came on the third and final attempt by Shields, who went through wrist surgery last season.
"Even during the fall there was a lot of question in his mind whether or not he was going to throw (in the shot put) again," Arizona head coach Fred Harvey said.
"It's huge, just a great school record," he said.
Junior distance runner Robert Cheseret justified his No. 1 ranking in the 5,000-meter event, finishing a minute ahead of the next competitor in 13:31.62.
"It's tremendous, not only in terms of his confidence, but it also suppresses the confidence of other athletes in the country," Harvey said. "That, to me, is the biggest thing. We want people out there to recognize that we're getting things done and that our athletes are really starting to perform."
Junior distance runner Jonah Maiyo improved upon his NCAA West Regional qualifier in the 800, placing third in 1:50.01.
Other Wildcat athletes traveled to Austin, where Texas hosted the 78th annual Texas Relays.
Senior hurdler Sharifa Jones enjoyed a successful weekend, even after false starting during competition Friday.
After being placed in the invitational section of the women's 100 hurdles because of Friday's false start, Jones finished fifth in 13.28 seconds Saturday, running the second-fastest time of her career despite hitting the fourth and 10th hurdles.
"She really needed to get one of those (performances) underneath her belt," Harvey said. "She's on fire. She's ready to run a huge race.
"When she finally has a clean race (by not hitting hurdles), it's going to be big time for her," Harvey said.
Looking forward, Harvey said the successful weekend should add to the team's confidence.
"The kids on the team are really believing in the things we are preaching and saying to them, which is that we have a legitimate opportunity to be in the top two at the Pac-10 and national championships," he said.
Although his men's team is ranked third heading into competition, Harvey said his athletes shouldn't take that for granted.
"The bottom line is that it's still a ranking and (the athletes) need to get to the championship meet and perform there," he said.