May 3, 2004
IRVINE, Calif. - The Gaucho women won the 4x400m relay at the Steve Scott Invitational on Sunday at UC Irvine with a school record time 3:44.86. The foursome of Kylie McCuen, Lauren Christman, Elise Geiger, and Jasmine Washington smashed the previous record of 3:47.31, set in 2001. Senior Desiree DeJesus won the 3,000m steeplechase in a new school record and qualified for the NCAA Regional Championship. The Gaucho ladies have broken nine school records in 2004.
McCuen, a sophomore from Brea led the relay off in 56.5, Christman a sophomore from Santa Cruz clocked a 57.7, Geiger a sophomore from Palo Alto split 56.7, and Washington, a senior from San Francisco brought home the baton with a 53.7, well ahead of second place CS Fullerton who finished in 3:51.62. Holding the lead from the first leg, the Gauchos fell just short of the NCAA Regional mark of 3:43.03, with no one to chase. The time ranks second in the Big West for 2004 behind CS Northridge.
DeJesus ran 10:51.68 to win the steeplechase. She broke the previous UCSB record of 10:54.71 set by Lisa Dunn in 2001 and qualified for the NCAA Regional Championship, by finishing under the time standard of 10:57.18. The lifetime best by DeJesus ranks 5th in the Big West this season.
Other highlights on a very hot and sunny day in Irvine included a third place finish by Sophomore Seanna Martin in the 5,000m. Martin set a lifetime best 18:13.23, coming in just under the Big West standard of 18:15.
Freshman Devon Tracy cleared 5' 6" to finish 4th in the high jump, Rebecca Richey threw the javelin 137' 7" for third place, and Amy Haapanen tossed the discus 160' 3" for a fifth place finish.
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The Gaucho women will have a final tune up this Saturday May 8th at Occidental College before returning to UC Irvine May 12th-15th for the Big West Conference Championship. Gaucho women currently lead the conference in five events including the 200m, 400m, 5,000m, shot put and hammer.
