Courtesy: UCSD Christine Merrill set a new school record in the 400 hurdles with a time of 58.86.

LOS ANGELES – After a two-week break from competition, the UC San Diego track and field teams were back in action over the weekend, competing in the 2009 Cal-Nevada Championships at UCLA’s Drake Stadium. The Triton women had another strong showing and finished fifth overall, while the men placed 12th.

Host UCLA scored 164.50 points in 20 events to win the meet on the women’s side, while the Bruin men dominated the field, finishing with 215.50 points to complete the sweep.

San Diego State finished in second place on the women’s side with 84 points, Cal State Northridge placed third with 81, and Sacramento State tallied 66 to place fourth. UCSD finished the two-day event with 50 total points.

On the men’s side, Cal State Northridge finished second with 96 points, Sacramento State placed third with 79, and Long Beach State scored 75 to claim fourth. The Triton men tallied 17 points.

Junior Linda Rainwater turned in another impressive performance for the UCSD jumps team, finishing second in the women’s high jump with a height of 5’7”, while sophomore Stephanie LeFever placed third in the women’s long jump with an NCAA national qualifying mark of 18’10.75”.

Senior Scott Tsuda set a new school record in the men’s triple jump, finishing second overall with leap of 48”10.75”. In addition to surpassing his own record of 48’2.5”, the performance was also good enough for an NCAA national qualifier in the event.

Junior Christine Merrill also set a school record in the 400-meter hurdles, placing second with a time of 58.86, which was an NCAA championship qualifying performance. She also eclipsed her own mark of 59.62, which she set last season.

Sophomore Bre Schofield led the Triton distance squad with a third place finish in the 1500, turning in a provisional qualifying time of 4:32.76.

Senior Nick Morilla’s performance in the shot put was the highlight for the throws team, finishing fifth with a toss of 52’6.75”, while Danielle Thu placed fifth in the women’s hammer throw with a mark of 178’08”.

The Tritons will compete next in the Mangrum Invitational Saturday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m.