LA JOLLA, Calif. - In a neck and neck competition that came down the final event, the UC San Diego women's track and field team fell just short of the program's sixth consecutive conference title, finishing less than three points behind champion Chico State on the final day of the 2010 California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships. The Tritons finished second on the men's side as well, as Chico turned in a dominant performance to complete the sweep.

UCSD's women held a 29-point lead through 18 events, but the Wildcats scored 42 points in the final three to retake the lead. The Tritons won the final event of the day -- turning in an impressive performance in a thrilling 4x400 relay -- but it wasn't enough to prevent the end of their conference reign. UCSD finished with 209.5 points, while Chico's finally tally came down at 212.33.

Cal State L.A. finished third with 101.33 points, while San Francisco State was fourth with 81.50 and Cal Poly Pomona tallied 64 to place fifth. Cal State Stanislaus (53.33), Cal State Dominguez Hills (50), and Humboldt State (47) finished sixth through eighth, respectively.

It wasn't nearly as close on the men's side, as Chico State scored a total of 290.5 points en route to a seventh straight CCAA Championship. UCSD racked up 140 points for a second straight second place finish, followed by Cal Poly Pomona (130), Cal State Stanislaus (103.5), Cal State L.A (98), and Humboldt State (98).

Senior Christine Merrill was one of several standout performers for the Tritons, winning a total of five events on the day. In addition to contributing to UCSD victories in both relays, the Bakersfield native posted the top times in her three individual events and took home Athlete of the Meet honors for the second year in a row for her performance.

Merrill opened the day with a victory in the 100 hurdles with a time 13.90 and later followed suit in the longer event, clocking in at 59.13. In between, she won the 400-meters with a school record time of 54.76, which was nearly a second faster than her previous best in the event.

Junior Kelly Fogarty also won multiple events on Saturday, breaking the tape in both the 100 and 200 meters. After winning a third straight CCAA title with a time of 11.95 in the 100, she came back with an even better performance in the 200, improving upon her school record in the event with a blistering time of 23.97.

Merrill and Fogarty were also members of UCSD's triumphant 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. The 4x100 unit, which also featured Kathleen Hitchens and Jacqueline Rose, clocked in at 46.67, while the 4x400 squad bested the field with a time of 3:45.27. Rose and Stephanie LeFever were the other two members of that group.

The victory in the 4x400 concluded a spectacular meet for LeFever, who won the triple jump a day after posting victories in both the heptathlon and long jump on Friday. She recorded a mark of 38'9" in the triple, with teammate Leah Murphy taking second in the event at 37'11.5".

Senior Linda Rainwater won her second straight CCAA title in the women's high jump, clearing 5'7.25". The defending national champion in the event, Rainwater's victory followed a second place showing in the heptathlon on Friday.

All told, the Triton women won nine events on Saturday to just three for Chico State, but the Wildcats still managed to outscore the defending champs.

Leon Baham had two of three wins for the Triton men on the day, defending his conference titles in the hurdle events. He broke the tape in the 110s at 14.80 and then posted a winning time of 52.34 in the 400s.

Nick Howe, who was named the Freshman of the Year after winning the javelin throw at the conference championships in 2009, won a second straight title in the event with a strong performance Saturday. The Aptos native uncorked a toss of 208'6", which was the top mark by over 15 feet.

The Tritons will now travel to Los Angeles for the Cal State L.A. Last Chance Qualifier next Saturday in their final tune up before the NCAA Division II National Championships May 27-29 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

2010 CCAA Awards: 

Men
Freshman of the Year: J. Patrick Smith, Chico State
Co-Newcomers of the Year: Brent Handa, Chico State; Dominic McGiffert, Cal State L.A
Athlete of the Meet: Josh Como, Cal State L.A.
Coach of the Year: Kirk Freitas, Chico State

Women
Freshman of the Year: Monikkia White, Cal State Dominguez Hills
Newcomer of the Year: Derrhea McLiechey, Cal State Stanislaus
Athlete of the Meet: Christine Merrill, UC San Diego
Coach of the Year: Oliver Hanf, Chico State