WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Following another outstanding performance over the weekend, UC San Diego sophomore Chia Chang was named the California Collegiate Athletic Association Female Runner of the Week for the week ending October 9, it was announced Monday by the league office.

Chang led the Tritons to a commanding victory at the 19th Annual Triton Classic Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, finishing third overall in the women's 6k. A native from Yorba Linda, Calif., Chang clocked in at 22:17.5, finishing behind only unattached runner Breanne Strenkowski (21:18.1) and San Diego State's Marianne Hogan (22:01.8).

UCSD was dominant in its final home appearance of the 2011 season, beating out teams from Central Arizona, San Diego State, Cal State L.A., Cal State San Bernardino, UC Irvine, Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal Poly Pomona.

Chang has now been the Tritons' top individual finisher in all four of her races this season.

This marks UCSD's first CCAA Runner of the Week award of the season and the first honor for a Triton woman since the 2009 campaign.

Head coach Nate Garcia's squad returns to action on Saturday, October 22 at the CCAA Championships, held at Spring Lakes Regional Park in Santa Rosa.

CCAA Female Runners of the Week:
Aug. 29 -Sept. 4: Paxton Cota (San Francisco State); Sept. 5-11: Alia Gray (Chico State); Sept. 12-18: Tiffany Dinh (Cal Poly Pomona); Sept. 19-25: Alia Gray (Chico State); Sept. 26 - Oct. 2: Zuleima Jimenez (San Francisco State); Oct. 3-9: Chia Chang (UC San Diego).