April 22, 2004
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Gauchos look to remain undefeated in 2004 this Saturday April 24th when they take on Big West Conference rival Cal Poly at UCSB's Pauley Track. The meet will start at noon with the women's steeplechase, high jump, and shot put. The Gauchos defeated the Mustangs 103-90 in last year's edition of the meet.
Senior sprinter Jasmine Washington, junior distance runner Cosette Smith and sophomore thrower Amy Haapanen lead the Gauchos into this Saturday's action.
Washington has the top entry marks in the 200m and 400m. The senior from San Francisco leads the Big West in both events and both marks are school records. Washington's 400m time of 53.58 is #3 the West Region and #27 on the NCAA National List. Washington is also scheduled to run legs on both relays.
Smith is coming off an NCAA Regional qualifying 16:33.13 5,000m time at the Mt. SAC Invitational last Friday. The junior from Manhattan Beach leads the Big West in the 5k, and is ranked 9th the West Region and #33 on the NCAA National List. Smith will run the 1,500 this Saturday where she owns a personal best of 4:32.87. Cal Poly's Kathryn Schegel has run 4:32.53 this year. Desiree Leek (4:32.93) and Lauren Christman (4:32.74) will team-up with Smith in the very tightly bunched 1,500m field.
Haapanen could rack up some big points for the Gaucho ladies as she is favored in the shot put, discus, and hammer on Saturday. Haapanen is coming off a school record 52' 0" effort in the shot put last Sunday at the Mt. SAC Invitational. She is ranked first in the Big West, #4 in the West Region, and stands #18 in the NCAA in the event. She will face her most competition in the shot put from Cal Poly's Amanda Garcia who has a best of 49' 9.5".
Washington and Gaucho sophomore Kylie McCuen in the 200m and 400m, and twin sisters Lauren and Lindsay Christman in the 800m, have the potential for 1-2 finishes for UCSB to off set Cal Poly's strength in the jumps and hurdles. Cal Poly's Sharon Day and Kaylene Wagner are tied for second on the NCAA list in the high jump, as both Mustangs have cleared 6' 2.25" this year. Cal Poly senior Lebren Martin leads the Big West in the 400h at 58.28, and Mustang sophomore Willimena Cisco is the conference's top 100m hurdler at 14.03. Cortney Stafford is the top Big West long and triple jumper at 19' 10.75" and 42' 5.5" respectively.
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