Women's Track and Field Team Wins Fifth Straight CCAA Championship

May 11, 2009

Junior Christine Merrill was named the CCAA MVP after posting wins in the women's 400 meter dash, 400 hurdles, and 4x100 relay.
(Photo: Michael Foo, Sideline Studios)

UC San Diego reaffirmed its dominance of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Division II earlier this month by capturing its fifth consecutive women's title in track and field.

The Tritons, led by CCAA Coach of the Year Darcy Ahner, collected 247.50 points to finish ahead of second-place Cal State Los Angeles May 2 at University Stadium in Chico. UC San Diego's Christine Merrill, who won the 400-meter dash, 400-meter hurdles and was part of the Tritons' 4 by 100 meter relay team, was named the Athlete of the Meet.

Linda Rainwater kicked off a big day for the UCSD women, winning the high jump with a leap of 5’5.25”, while Kelly Fogarty posted a strong performance in the sprints, placing first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.01 and second in the 200-meter dash at 24.32. Christine Merrill took home the conference title in the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.22.
 
After posting a school record time in the 100-meter hurdle prelims (13.64), senior Laiah Blue won the event with a time of 13.94 in the finals. Merrill finished third at 14.30 and Rainwater placed fourth with a mark of 14.53.
 
UCSD claimed the top four spots in the 400-meter hurdles, with Merrill placing first with at time of 61.13, followed by teammates Blue (61.47), Katie Skorupa (63.53) and Deyna Roberson (64.99).
 
UCSD women also excelled in the relay races. Merrill, Blue, Fogarty, and Skorupa brought home another victory for the Tritons in the 4x100 relay at 46.92, while Skorupa, Roberson, Blue, and Anna Lee McGregor also placed first in the 4x 400 with a time of 3:50.93.

On the men’s side, UCSD tallied 164 points to finish second behind host Chico State, which racked up 257 points to claim a sixth straight CCAA title.

“Things went extremely well for us considering it rained for two days constantly during the meet,” men’s head coach Tony Salerno said. “Our people really stepped up and we are very, very pleased with the results.”