LA JOLLA, Calif. - Christine Merrill, a standout performer on the UC San Diego women's track and field team, received the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Female Athlete of the Year accolade for the 2009-10 season. In what could be argued as one of the most dominating performances in CCAA history, Merrill won a total of five events on the final day of the conference championships last month.
"This impressive honor is very well deserved," UCSD women's track and field head coach Darcy Ahner said. "Christine is an extremely hard worker and it's been a complete pleasure to work with her for four years."
The CCAA Male Athlete of the Year honor was given to Brandon Gregorich of the UCSD baseball squad, conference officials announced Thursday. The award is voted on by the 12-member institutions' Sports Information Directors during their annual spring meeting. The selections of Gregorich and Merrill mark just the fourth time that two athletes from the same institution have swept the awards.
Merrill capped off an impressive four-year career by claiming two individual All-American honors at the 2010 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships that concluded on May 29. She finished third in the 400-meter hurdles with a school-record time of 58.04 and placed 12th in the 100 hurdles at 14.18. She also ran a leg of the 4x400 relay team that finished eighth with a time of 3:44.39, the third-fastest time in program history.
The Bakersfield, Calif., native was named the CCAA Athlete of the Meet for the second consecutive season at the conference championships in May after posting individual victories in the 100 hurdles (13.90), 400 hurdles (59.13) and the 400 meters (54.76). She also ran legs in both relays, as the Tritons placed first in the 4x100 and 4x400 with respective times of 46.67 and 3:45.2. Her time in the 400 meters was a school record.
Merrill is the third UCSD female to earn the CCAA's top honor, joining former Tritons Cindy Dostalek (Soccer, 2000-01) and Leora Juster (Basketball, 2006-07).
