May 1, 2004

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Gaucho junior Desiree Leek qualified for the NCAA West Regional Championship in the 1,500m with a personal best 4:28.15 at the Cardinal Invitaional on Friday night in Palo Alto. Sophomore twins Lauren and Lindsay Christman also set lifetime bests in the 800m.

Leek finished 2nd in the "C" heat of the 1,500m. Her previous best in the event was 4:29.32. The regional standard is 4:29.12. Her time, due largely in part to a furious kick over the final 400m in 68 seconds, puts Leek at #4 on the all-time Gaucho list and is the third best time in the Big West for 2004. Leek has also qualified for the regional championship in the 5,000m.

Junior Cosette Smith shaved .48 off her previous best at 1,500m, finishing 6th in the same heat at 4:32.39. Sophomore Roseann Peters placed 11th in 4:34.53.

Lauren and Lindsay Christman placed 5th and 6th respectively in the "B" heat of the 800m. Lauren's time of 2:11.19 ranks first in the Big West, and Lindsay's 2:11.56 moves her to third in the conference. The twin sisters from Santa Cruz now stand 5th and 6th All-time at UCSB in the 800m.