This Week’s Events:

Thu., May 31---UCSD Athletics Recognition Dinner---7:00 PM

BLUE, JOHNSON LEAD WOMEN TO BEST EVER NCAA FINISH
Led by multi-event point-scoring from juniors Laiah Blue and Whitney Johnson, the Women’s Track & Field team finished eighth at last week’s NCAA Division II Championships in Charlotte, NC, its best-ever national performance...Coach Tony Salerno’s Tritons piled up 30 points and were just 12 points out of fourth place...Lincoln University (PA) took the the team title with 82.5 points.

Johnson flew 19-3.25 in the long jump to grab third place and came back to take fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 40-11.5...Her distance in the former was just six inches short of the gold...Blue, meanwhile, broke her own school record while blazing 13.66 in the 100 hurdles to claim third and went 60.18 for seventh in the 400 hurdles.

Blue also ran the leadoff leg of the sixth place 4x400 relay quartet, teaming with Anna Lee McGregor, Christine Merrill and Amber Green to set a new UCSD standard of 3:44.27... UCSD's remaining points came from the junior distance duo of Diane Dunn (3rd/3,000/ 9:56.02) and Emily McGregor (7th/5,000/17:18.72)...Non-scoring members of the travel squad were Jillian Sola (9th/discus), Sarah Hendy (15th/discus), Torrey Trust (18th/javelin) and the 4x100 relay team.

TRITONS SECOND AT NCAA CREW CHAMPIONSHIPS
Coach Pattie Pinkerton’s Women’s Crew team capped its most successful season ever one step short of a national title last weekend, finishing second to No. 1 ranked defending champion Western Washington at the NCAA Division II Championships in Oak Ridge, TN.

The Tritons were number two in both races that counted towards the team title—the varsity eight and four...The eight, consisting of Megan Hagquist, Kali Webb, Megan Hatlen, Leah Llach, Anna Simeon, Kelsey Thomas, Jen Myers, Monica Switick and coxswain Leslie Sjobom...Running third most of the race, UCSD swept past Dowling in the final 500 meters and crossed the line in 7:09.51, just under six seconds back of Western Washington which went wire-to-wire for the win.

The Tritons, who posted the fastest qualifying time in the fours on Friday, were again second best WWU on Sunday...The Vikings got up early and were six second victors in this one as well...Nova Southeastern was third.

CANTELE HONORED
Sophomore first baseman Matt Cantele, who set a UCSD single season record with 23 home runs, was named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-American team last week...Cantele is the first UCSD player selected since the program went to the Division II level in 2000-01.

ALL SPORTS BANQUET SET FOR THURSDAY
UC San Diego’s annual Athletics Recognition Dinner, recognizing performances and contributions of student-athletes, coaches, staff and supporters during 2006-07, will be held Thursday, May 31 at 7:00 PM in UCSD’s Price Center Ballroom...Over 600 are expected for the event...For more information, please call (858) 534-4211.

For more information on Triton sports, check our website at http://ucsdtritons.com.