May 29, 2007

Bethany Nickless finished second in the steeplechase at the NCAA Track and Field West Regional this past weekend, setting a new school record and automatically qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

Nickless took second with a UCSB record time of 10:11.03. The junior, who came into the meet ranked 14th in the West Region and 43rd nationally in the event, catapulted to a 13th-place ranking in the country after her performance. The Huntington Beach native will be making her second consecutive appearance at the NCAA Track and Field Championships.

Overall, UCSB will send six athletes to the Championships, which will be held June 6-9 in Sacramento, Calif. Joining Nickless will be Eugene Bradley (javelin), John Delaney (javelin), Amy Haapanen (shot put and hammer), Megan Lewis (10k), and Stephanie Rothstein (10k).