April 16, 2005

Not one, not two, but three school records fell on Friday in Southern California as the Gauchos split squads traveling to the Pomona Invitational and the Mt. Sac Invitational. The Women's 1500m, 3000m steeplechase and 200m school records all fell on a beautiful Friday.

A major weekend for USA Track & Field as many athletes and universities converge upon these two meets to compete against the best, the conditions are always ripe for qualifying marks and fast times. For the Gauchos, on top of qualifying for the Big West Championships, these athletes were focusing on one magic number - a West Regional Qualifying mark, which are based on the top 100 marks in the nation in each event of the previous year. Regionals will be held in May at the fabled venue Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene.

Indeed, the Gauchos were focused with nine male and female athletes getting their respective events' regional qualifying mark. Starting off the day at Pomona, the Gaucho ladies toed the line for the Women's 3,000m steeplechase at 9:40am. In her first attempt at the event, in which the athletes must not only contend with the distance but four barriers and a water pit, Bethany Nickless (Fr.) got out from the start pacing herself to a sub 11 minute attempt. At four laps Nickless kept moving up in the field and was beginning to set herself up for that Regional mark of 10:52.10.

As she came down the homestretch avoiding a woman who had just tripped over one of the barriers she crossed the line in 3rd place with not only a qualifying mark but also a new school record at 10:50.53. The old record was held by Desiree DeJesus at 10:51.68 set last year. Also in that race, Rebecca Zamolo (Sr.) raced to a personal best 11:27.21, the 7th fastest UCSB All-Time mark, a best by twenty seconds and a Big West Conference Championship qualifying mark.

Later that afternoon at Pomona, Kylie McCuen (Jr.) got in her starting blocks for the Women's 200m. Currently leading the Big West in the 400m and second in the 200m, Kylie got out fast racing for the win in the second heat, grabbing the third fastest time of the day and a new school record at 24.21. The previous school record holder, Jasmine Washington, set her time in 2004 and was also the Big West Conference Champion at 400m last year.

Over at Mt. Sac in Walnut, CA, three Gaucho ladies were beginning to prepare themselves for the Women's Olympic Development University/Open 1500m. Lauren Christman (Jr.), Lindsay Christman (Jr.) and Cosette Smith (Sr.) were all attempting to go under the Regional qualifying mark of 4:27.80. Going out in approximately 68 seconds for the first lap of this metric mile, all three Gauchos were looking great. At the bell lap, Lauren had moved up to the front of the race and with 300m to go was in control. She ran approximately a 65 second last lap winning by over two seconds to conference rival UC Irvine.

Her final time of 4:20.90 was the second fastest time of the day, three seconds faster than UCSB's previous school record set by Katie Appendrodt in 2001 and is unofficially the 7th fastest time in the NCAA this year. It also leads the Big West Conference and is the 2nd fastest in the West Region. For those inquiring minds it is approximately a 4:39 mile. In the same race, sister Lindsay, raced to the line in 4:23.90 the 3rd fastest UCSB All-Time time, also a Regional Qualifying mark and unofficially the 17th fastest time in NCAA's. Rounding things up for the Gauchos, Cosette also got under the Regional qualifying time running 4:27.30, the 6th fastest UCSB All-Time mark.

Also in the distances, Megan Lewis (Fr.) ran a personal best time in the 5000m to become the 4th Gaucho at that distance to run a Regional Qualifying time. Her mark of 16:51.37 just got under the qualifying time of 16:52.00 and is also the 8th fastest UCSB All-Time mark.

In the throws, Heather Quinn continued her fantastic season by getting a regional qualifying mark in the Discus throw by tossing it 163'02. Haapanen finished a place behind by going for 161'02 also above the qualifying mark. Haapanen also threw the hammer 183'02 a regional mark.

Also for the women, Katie Kramer (So.) continued a fast rate of improvement in the long jump, leaping 18'07.25, the 8th farthest jump for UCSB All-Time. Kim Christiansen (Jr.) in the same event jumped 18'03.75 a personal best for her and 9th longest jump in UCSB history. Both leaps qualified them for the Big West Championships. Also, Christiansen in the triple jump just missed her own school record by one inch jumping 38'05.

The events this weekend continue today at Mt. Sac in Walnut, CA with many of the Gaucho throwing and field squad competing. On Sunday at Mt. Sac the elite sections of all Track & Field events will commence at 9:45am with the Women's Shot Put. Tetlo Emmen, 2004 West Regional 800m Champion will be competing at 2:55 in the Olympic Development 800m run. Also competing on Sunday will be Heather Quinn in the Shot Put, Amy Haapanen in the Shot Put and Hammer Throw, Scott Anderson, Jeff Stewart, Matt Barkley, Ryan Lockner and Euegene Bradley all also in the Shot Put and Coach John Dagata in the Hammer Throw.

Visit www.ucsbtrack.com for complete results and statistics.