WALNUT, Calif.  ? The UC San Diego track and field team completed action at the NCAA D-II Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.  The UCSD women's team finished in fourth place nationally, its best-ever performance at the Division II level, as sophomore Christine Merrill led the way with a third-place finish in the 400 meter hurdles (59.63).  Sarah Hendy also finished third in discus with a throw of 47.34 meters.  Brianna Schofield also scored points for UCSD with her sixth-place finish in the 1,500 meters (4:33.87) and the 4x400 relay team of Katie Skorupa, Corey Sheredy, Anna Lee McGregor and Merrill raced to a time of 3:45.31, good for seventh-place.

Merrill, only 1.2 seconds from the gold medal, Schofield, who was just .60 seconds out of fourth place, and Hendy all earned All-American status. As a team, UCSD finished with 49 points. The top three team finishers were Abilene Christian (76.5), Adams State (55) and Lincoln (54). The UCSD men placed 46th, getting all of their points from sophomore Casey Ryan's tie for fifth in the high jump.

Three other Triton women turned in 11th place finishes during Saturday's closing night.  Linda Rainwater, a  winner the previous day in the heptathlon, in the high jump (5-5), Emily McGregor in the 5,000 meters (17:32.48) and Diane Dunn in the 1,500 meters (4:36.87).