Three to Join UCR Track and Field and Cross Country Programs in 06-07

(Dec. 7, 2005) - UC Riverside Track and Field and Cross Country Head Coach Irv Ray has announced that three men will join the UCR Track and Field and Cross Country program in the 2006-2007 season. Joining UCR are David Girten, Jr. of Damien HS, David Smith of Northview HS and Ameer Tillman of San Francisco City JC.

Girten, a native of Fontana, CA is a high jumper with a personal best of 6'8". He reached the state championships in 2005 and is the number two returning high jumper in the state.

"David is an outstanding jumper. He can really soar," Ray said.

Smith will run the 1,600 and 3,200 in track with a personal best of 4:20 in the mile. He placed 11th in the Division III State Cross Country meet for the Covina-based school.

"David has a desire for greatness," Ray said. "He will add depth to the cross country team and could be a key contributor in track.
Tillman, who is the brother of 2005 UCR graduate and track standout Aqueelah Tillman, is an outstanding sprinter and will be asked to lead the Highlanders sprint program. A native of Oakland, CA, he attended Dublin HS before attending SFCC. He ran a career best 47.3 in the 400.

"He is very talented, and he will help a young and talented sprint group move to the top of the Big West Conference," Ray said.

UCR Track Signs Six Women, Two Men

(June 14, 2006) - The UC Riverside track and field program has announced the signings of eight student-athletes, six women and two men, to National Letters of Intent.

Joining the Highlander women's program in 2006-07 are jumpers Lauren Reid (Rio Mesa HS), Jacqulyn Lewis (Hoover HS) and Allison Wilder (South Hills HS), distance runner Ashleigh Pratt (Woodcrest Christian HS), sprinter Toni Smith (Upland HS) and hurdler/shot putter Elvie White (San Bernardino HS). On the men's side, hurdler Marcus Marbrey (Diamond Bar HS) and middle-distance runner Derek Somerville (Saugus HS) will join the team.

• Reid had a personal best of 38' 4" in the triple jump and 19' 6" in the long jump, winning the 2006 Division 2 CIF Southern Section Championship and reaching the state finals in the latter event. "She is a great addition to the team, and she brings leadership and a winning attitude," Ray said.

• Lewis' bests are 19' 4" in the long jump and 37' 2" in the triple jump. She was the Central Section Long Jump Champion and reached the state finals. "She will give us a great one-two punch in the jumps" Ray said. "She is very fast down the runway and has the potential to topple the 20-foot barrier as a freshman."

• Wilder's personal best in the triple jump is 37' 5", despite the fact that the 2005-06 season was her first year of competing in the event. "She reached the CIF Finals in the triple jump," Ray said. "She could reach 39, 40 feet as a freshman in the triple jump and we expect big things from her in the future."

• Pratt, a distance runner who is coming off an outstanding cross country season in 2005-06 in which she was the CIF D5 Southern Section Champion, placing third in the state. She was also a CIF finalist in the 3,200. "Ashleigh will come in a contribute to both the track and cross country teams," Ray said. "She will prove how big her heart is when the gun goes off."

• Smith is a sprinter who has competed in the 100, 200 and hurdle events, reaching the CIF finals in the 100. "She is really quick and is going to be great for us in the short sprints and hurdles," Ray said.

• White is a versatile talent who at 6-feet tall is capable of competing in both the hurdles and the shot put. Ray said that White could become and outstanding heptathlete in the near future. "She is the total athlete; strong and fast," Ray said. "She will intimidate her competitors as soon as she steps on the track."

"We are really proud of this recruiting class," Ray said. "All six have winning attitudes and a strong belief in their ability to compete at this level."

• Marbrey has a personal best of 39.5 in the 300 hurdles and will be an immediate threat in the 400 hurdles at UCR. "He is a big, strong kid with loads of potential and a desire for greatness," Ray said.

• Somerville has run 1:54 in the 800 and reached the California State Meet. He will be expected to produce in the 800 and 1,500 as a freshman and will also run cross country.

Marbrey and Somerville join three early signees sprinter Ameer Tillman, CIF long jump champion David Girten and CIF Finalist in the mile at 4:19. "We have a really talented group of athletes coming into the program," Ray said.

Ray Named Finalist for Scott Hamilton Award

(Nov. 6, 2006) - UC Riverside Cross Country and Track and Field Head Coach Irv Ray has been named a finalist for the United States Track and Field Association Scott Hamilton Award. The award will be presented at the USATF Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, IN on December 2.

The Scott Hamilton Award was established to pay tribute to leaders in the sport of long distance running at the USATF Association level. The members of the Men's Long Distance Running Committee- composed of representatives from each of USATF's 57 geographic associations, and from each of USATF's member organizations - annually nominate candidates and vote to select the recipients award.

Ray has been nominated for the Scott Hamilton Award by Paul Greer, the Long Distance Running Chair of USATF's San Diego Imperial Association. In his nomination statement, Paul wrote, "Irv Ray is the coach at UC Riverside and was the coach for Steve Scott, the American Record holder in the one mile run. Irv has worked on many national committees at the USATF level including middle distance development."

Ray has served as a national chair for the Olympic Development in the 800 and 1500 for six years. He is the co-author of two editions of "Run With the Best", with over 10,000 copies sold world wide. He is renown for developing national class 800 and 1500 athletes, with more than 10 athletes who have competed for the United States at the World Championships or Olympic Games.

Ray is in his fourth year as the head coach of UC Riverside's track and field and cross country programs. Each of the programs has shown continued improvement throughout his tenure.

Other finalists are Tyler Abbott (Pacific Association), Keith Hanson and Kevin Hanson (Michigan Association), and Jack Moran (Minnesota Association).

Highlanders Open 2007 With Victories at Washington

(Jan. 13, 2007) - UC Riverside took the gold in four track and field events as the Highlanders turned in a number of fine performances at the 2007 University of Washington Indoor Invitational Saturday.

Whitney Leachman led three Highlanders in the 400m dash, winning the event in 59.65 seconds. Leachman also was the second runner on UCR’s 4x400m “A” relay team, which took the gold in 3:55.91.

Also on the women’s side, Lauren Reid triumphed in the long jump with a leap of 5.36m (17 feet, 7 inches). Myla Hollyfield and Allison Wilder each came second in their events, with Hollyfield throwing the weight 15.59m (51-1.75) and Wilder leaping 11.5m (37-8.75) in the triple jump. Other top performances included Erica Cosby and Melissa Genisauski, who placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the weight throw.

On the men’s side, Staton Gibson won the triple jump with a distance of 14.57m (47-9.75) and finished third in the long jump elite at 6.80m (22-3.75). The men’s 4x400m “A” relay finished second in that event in a time of 3:22.04. Meanwhile, Marcelis Irving came fifth in the long jump at 6.28m (22-3.75) and Craig Wood was fifth in the shot put elite with a throw of 14.49m (47-6.5)

Complete meet results are available by clicking here.

Highlanders Compete at Washington

(Jan. 27, 2007) - The Highlanders returned to Washington for the second time in two weeks to compete at the University of Washington Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

In Friday's action the women's distance medley relay team of Lisa Lopez, Uchei Egeonuigwe, Tajma Stephenson and Brenda Martinez placed third in 11:29.34, an NCAA Provisional Qualifying mark and the 10th-fastest time in the NCAA this year. The Highlanders trailed only Baylor and Washington and bested BYU, Oregon and Hawaii. The "B" team of Danielle Evans, Marina Young, Ashley Williams and Cristina Olivas was 10th overall in 12:00.58.

The achievement by the DMR team marked the first time that a UCR team has earned an NCAA National Qualifying mark in the Division I era.

Saturday's schedule featured two more school records. Martinez lowered her personal best by six seconds in the 3000m, finishing in a new UCR record time of 9:39.52. UCR's elite 4x400m "A" team of Ashley Williams, Stephenson, Marina Young, and Egeonuigwe won their section in 3:49.66 over UCLA, Washington and Baylor, and set a new school record in the process.

In addition to Martinez's school record, four other Highlanders ran lifetime bests in the 3000m. Sarah Tesfaye finished fourth in her section in 10:00.02, Lopez was fifth in her section in 10:02.54, Cristina Olivas was ninth in 10:05.75, and Danielle Evans was 16th in 10:13.78.

Senior Staton Gibson placed third overall in the triple jump with a UCR indoor school record of 49' 4.5".

Other top finishes included Wililams setting a lifetime best in the 800 in 2:14.61, Whitney Leachman placing 13th overall in the 400 in 58.46, Lauren Reid finishing 12th overall in the triple jump at 37' 4.5", Melissa Genisauski finishing first in section B in the shot put at 44' 10.75" and 16th in the weight throw at 47' 9.75". On the men's side, Guillaume Mok was 29th in the 400 in 50.71 and Ed Giles was 36th in the 800 in 1:55.44, a personal best. Andrew Jacobson set a personal best in the 400 in 49.82.

Martinez Crushes School Record in the Mile as Highlanders Compete at Washington

(Feb. 10, 2007) - Sophomore Brenda Martinez's school record breaking and NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the mile run highlighted the day for UC Riverside at the Husky Classic Track Meet at Dempsey Indoor Arena on the campus of the University of Washington Saturday.

Martinez finished fourth in the elite heat, clocking in at 4:45.83, easily better than the NCAA provisional mark of 4:48.0. Her time was also four seconds faster than her own school record of 4:49.87, set almost a year ago to the day, on February 11, 2006 at Iowa State.

"That was an outstanding race in an elite field of runners," Head Coach Irv Ray said. "The time puts her among the top-15 women in the country. We are very excited."

Sophomore Lisa Lopez edged closer to the provisional mark with a personal best of 4:53.83, good for seventh in her section in the mile and also a new personal best.

Three more school records fell on Saturday. Whitney Leachman won her 200 heat in 25.29, besting the previous mark of 25.91. In the 5,000 meters, Celene Reyes established a new record at 18:14.90 while freshman Alison Wilder leaped 38' 6" in the triple jump, more than a foot farther than the old mark of 37' 5.75". Wilder finished third in the event.

Two lifetime bests were set in the women's weight throw. Myla Hollyfield won her flight at 56' 7.25", with Melissa Genisauski placing third at 50' 2.5". Genisauski was fourth in her flight of the shot at 42' 4".

Other personal bests included Ashley Zamora (18:22.00) and Ashleigh Pratt (18:39.41), each in the 5,000 meters.

In other events, Molly Russell placed third in her flight in the 60 in 7.94, Marina Young placed third in her section in the 800 in 2:17.54. Lauren Reid was eighth in her flight with a long jump of 17' 8.25" and sixth in the triple jump at 37' 3", a personal best.

Senior Staton Gibson won his flight in the triple jump with a 48' 8.25" effort.

Greg Lemon was second in his section of the 400 in 49.65 while Andrew Jacobson was third in his section in 49.67. Both times were personal bests.

Highlanders Open Outdoor Season at UCI

(Mar. 3, 2007) - Both the UC Riverside men's and women's track and field teams finished fourth at the outdoor season opening All-Cal Challenge Cup meet at UC Irvine Saturday, but both Highlander squads posted several outstanding finishes.

Overall, the UCR women finished fourth with 88 points and the men were fourth with 98 points.

Craig Wood had a highlight afternoon for UCR, winning the discus with a conference qualifying mark of 161-6, and the hammer at 181-3, setting a new school record in the latter event in the process. Other highlights for the Highlanders included Staton Gibson winning the triple jump at 46-10.75- a conference qualifying mark- and placing third in the long jump at 21-0.75, Andrew Jacobson winning the 400 in 48.67 - a conference qualifying mark, Jon Moore winning the 400 hurdles in 54.23 - a conference qualifying mark, the men's 4x400 relay winning in 3:17.26, Ed Giles finishing second in the 800 in 1:56.23, Marselis Irving finishing fourth in the long jump at 20-11.75, and Tom Caballero finishing third in the discus at 150.

For the women, Molly Russell was first in the 100 in 12.52, Tajma Stephenson first in 56.4 and Uchei Egeonuigwe third in 57.51 in the 400 - both conference qualifying marks, the 4x400 relay finishing first in 3:49.57, Allison Wilder placing second and setting a new school record in triple jump at 39-5, Melissa Genisauski finishing third in discus at 144-10 and Lauren Reid fourth in the long jump at 18-2.25. Ashleigh Pratt's time of 4:41.06 in the 1500 was a conference qualifying makr.

Highlanders Women's Distance Runners Have Great Performance at Ben Brown Invitational

(Mar. 12, 2007) - The UC Riverside Highlanders' women's distance team had an exciting weekend at the Ben Brown Invitational at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, with the 5,000 team posting a record breaking day.

Brenda Martinez, making her 2007 debut and running her first-ever 5,000 meter race crushed the UCR school record in 16:41.28. She finished first among collegians and second overall in the elite field. Three other Highlanders recorded times under the previous mark was 17:29.54, junior Sarah Tesfaye in 16:55.93, junior Lisa Lopez in 17:11.98 and sophomore Cristina Olivas in 17:20.7.

"It was a magical night for the UCR women's distance runners," Ray said.

Martinez ran with the elite pack for the first seven laps of the 12.5 lap race. She picked up her pace on the seventh lap and broke away with pro Amber Steen-Moore, putting a distance of over 30 meters on the rest of the field. Steen-Moore outkicked Martinez in the last 200 meters to win the race, with Martinez just behind her, six seconds ahead of the nearest collegiate competitor.

Freshman Allison Wilder set a new school record in the triple jump, finishing second with a 39' 8" leap, good for second place. Sophomore Uchechi egeonuigwe was third in the 400 hurdles in 61.69.

On the men's side, senior Staton Gibson won the triple jump with a 47' 6.5" jump.

Gibson, Egeonuigwe, Martinez, Tesfaye, Lopez, Olivas, Reyes, Pratt, Evans, Jon Moore (400H), Ulices Pina (5000), Raul Lara (5000), Andrew Tachias (5000), Whitney Leachman (200) all reached Big West qualifying marks.

Martinez Named Big West Track Athlete of the Week

(March 14, 2007) - Redshirt freshman distance runner Brenda Martinez was named Big West Track Athlete of the Week Wednesday, the conference announced.

Martinez, making her 2007 debut and running her first-ever 5,000 meter race crushed the UCR school record and earned Big West and Regional Qualifying times with her 16:41.28 performance. She finished first among collegians and second overall in the elite field. She led a pack of four Highlanders who bested the previous school record.

"It is really exciting to see Brenda come forward with this performance," Head Coach Irv Ray said, adding that Martinez redshirted the 2006 track season due to health issues that required a brief hospitalization. " It has been a year-long dedicated and focused journey as she has worked to return to her capability. We are excited by her performance this past weekend and for what lies ahead for the remainder of this year."

Highlanders Post Seven Conference Qualifying Times at Northridge

(Mar. 19, 2007) - The UC Riverside Highlanders competed at the Cal State Northridge Invitational Saturday, posting seven conference qualifying times.

On the women's side, Molly Russell, Ashley Williams and Marina Young all earned conference qualifying marks. Russell finished fourth overall in the 100 in a time of 12.13 and Williams set a personal best and earned her conference mark with a second overall finish in the 400 in 55.78. Tajma Stephenson, who had previously qualified for the conference meet, finished fourth in 56.53, while Marina Young earned a qualifying time with a 56.99 performance. UCR dominated the event, taking six of the top 10 spots.

In other events, the women's 4x200 relay teams dominated the event, taking the top two position sin 1:41.60 and 1:43.98. Celene Reyes won the steeplechase in a time of 11:39.40 and Allison Wilder was second in the triple jump at 38'7".

Ed Giles, Greg Lemon, Marcus Marbrey and Marcelis Irving each earned conference qualifying marks at the meet. Giles won the 800 in 1:54.71, while Derek Somerville placed third in 1:56.37. Irving was first in the "B" section of the triple jump at 45' 1". Marbrey was sixth in the 400 hurdles, finishing in 55.53, and Greg Lemon was sixth in the 400 in 48.84.

For the men, the 4x200 team also performed well, finishing first in 1:27.04.

Martinez, Lopez Lead UCR at UCI With NCAA Qualifying Marks

(Mar. 26, 2007) - Redshirt freshman Brenda Martinez and junior Lisa Lopez each posted NCAA qualifying times in the 800m to highlight a strong showing by the UC Riverside Highlanders at the UC Irvine Spring Break Collegiate Classic Saturday in Irvine, CA.

With more than 15 student-athletes missing due to UCR's final exams, Martinez (2:07.16) and Lopez (2:09.62) placed 2-3 in the 800m, besting the NCAA qualifying mark of 2:09.80. The times were the two fastest in the Big West Conference this season and the second- and third-fastest times in the NCAA Western Region. For Martinez, it is the second-fastest time in school history and her second NCAA qualifier in two races this season, having already gained a place in the 5,000m. It is Lopez's first NCAA qualifying standard.

Freshman Allison Wilder also had an historic meet, setting a new school record in the triple jump. Wilder leapt 12.16m (39-10.75 feet) to place second out of 18 competitors.

Elsewhere on the women's side, four Highlanders put up Big West Conference qualifying times. Sophomore Cristina Olivas (4:35.53) and junior Sarah Tesfaye (4:38.85) finished sixth and eighth, respectively, in the 1,500m while freshman Lauren Reid soared 11.47m (37-7.75) in the triple jump and senior Shannon Toliver cleared 1.60m (5-3.00) in the high jump. Sophomore Molly Russell placed third in the 100m in 12.23 seconds and junior Whitney Leachman had a third-place showing in the 200m in 24.78.

Also in the 800m, sophomore Ashley Williams ran a personal best time of 2:14.88. The women's 4x400m relay team placed second in 3:45.00. Junior Melissa Genisauski threw the discus 45.24m (148-5.00) for a third-place finish while senior Myla Hollyfield finished sixth in the discus with a personal-best toss of 12.51m (41-0.50). Hollyfield also put up a Big West qualifying throw of 50.13m (164-6.00) in the hammer, good for third place.

A pair of Big West qualifiers highlighted the UCR men's performances. Junior Nemo Simmons (1:54.25) and freshman Derek Somerville (1:54.98) finished third and fifth, respectively, in the 800m, with junior Raul Lara placing sixth at 1:55.13.

UCR showed depth and strength in the 3,000m with four student-athletes placing in the top-10. Sophomore Andrew Tachias was third in 8:33.71 with junior Ulices Pina right behind him in 8:34.98. Sophomore Jose Melina was sixth in 8:40.60 and sophomore Michael Buell finished ninth in 8:44.49.

Senior thrower Craig Wood capped UCR's fine day by winning the discus with a throw of 49.05m (160-11.00), more than two feet further than his closest competitor.

Martinez Named Big West Track Athlete of the Week... Again

(March 28, 2007) - Redshirt freshman distance runner Brenda Martinez was named Big West Conference Women’s Track Athlete of the Week Wednesday, the conference announced. It is Martinez’s second award of the month, after gaining recognition on March 14.

At last Saturday’s UC Irvine Spring Break Collegiate Classic, Martinez (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho Cucamonga HS) finished second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:07.22, the second-best showing in the event in Highlander history. Her time is the best this season in the Big West, the second-best mark in the West Region, and a qualifier for the NCAA Championships.

Earlier this month, Martinez ran an NCAA-qualifying time of 16:41.28 in her 5,000m debut. The time shattered the old school record and resulted in her first Big West Track Athlete of the Week award.

UCR travels north this weekend to the prestigious Stanford Invitational, where it will take on the nation’s best programs March 30-31.

Martinez and Stephenson Lead UCR at Stanford Invitational

(April 2, 2007) - The UC Riverside Highlanders posted a pair of NCAA qualifying marks and saw the school record in the 1,500 shattered twice in a four-hour period at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto Friday and Saturday. The meet is one of the elite Division I meets in the country with many of the top NCAA teams represented.

Saturday, junior Lisa Lopez, competing in her first 1,500 of 2007, broke the school record in the event with a time of 4:29.91, placing 11th in the "B" section. But a short while later, redshirt freshman Brenda Martinez bettered the mark, finishing 13th in 4:21.18, again breaking the school record. The time was first in the Big West, fourth in the Western Region and ninth on the NCAA National List.

"She ran an amazing race, and was even pushing for the lead with 300 meters to go. Her time equals a 4:39 mile," Head Coach Irv Ray said. "Lisa held the school record for about four hours."

On Friday, junior Tajma Stephenson posted a regional qualifying mark of 2:08.62 in the 800, finishing 14th overall in the elite section.

Freshman Allison Wilder finished second in the triple jump with a 39' 0.25" effort in the "B" Section. In the 400, sophomore Ashley Williams finished 12th in 56.24 and sophomore Marina Young was 18th in 56.98. In the long jump, freshman Lauren Reid finished eighth at 17' 9.75". The Highlanders had four runners record sub-18 times in the 5,000. Sophomore Cristina Olivas was 11th in her section in 17:25.23, sophomore Danielle Evans was 11th in her section at 17:39.96, freshman Ashley Pratt was 13th in 17:51.85 and junior Ashley Zamora was 15th in 17:58.91

The women's 4x400 relay team of Williams, Young, sophomore Uchei Egeonuigwe and junior Tajma Stephenson, placed sixth in 3:44.47.

On the men's side, senior Jon Moore finished 19th in the 400 at 55.27. In the 5,000, sophomore Andrew Tachias finished 32nd in 14:49.71 and sophomore Jose Melina finished 17th in 14:50.13.

Highlanders Post Nine Firsts at UCSD Meet

(April 9, 2007) - The UC Riverside Highlanders posted nine first places and one NCAA qualifying mark at the 2007 UCSD Divisional Challenge on Saturday at La Jolla.

The Highlanders took a small team to the meet and approached it as an opportunity for individuals to post Big West and NCAA qualifying marks. Overall, the women finished fourth with 103 points, while the women placed third with 135.

Melissa Genisauski won the discus with a throw of 156'10", a regional qualifying mark.

Other first place finishers for the Highlanders were Molly Russell in the 100 in 12.26, Whitney Leachman in the 200 in 24.96, Uchechi Egeonuigwe in the 400 hurdles in 1:00.96, Genisauski in the shot put at 41'5"and Myla Hollyfield in the hammer in160'4". The women's 4x100 team of Jacqulyn Lewis, Whitney Leachman, Allison Wilder and Russell also won in a time of 47.66.

For the men, Andrew Jacobson won the 400 in 48.54 and Craig Wood took the discus at 161'9" and hammer at 172' 1".

Martinez Sets Personal Best in 800 at Mt. SAC

(April 14, 2007) - Redshirt freshman Brenda Martinez posted a career-best 2:06.76 in the Olympic Development 800 at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays Friday, while UCR freshman Lauren Reid posted a personal best in the long jump.

The time, which was just shy of Tajma Stephenson's 2006 school record of 2:05.92, was good for second in the race behind two time NCAA 1,500 meter champion Tiffany McWilliams, who won in 2:05.85. It is the top time in the event this season for a Highlander.

Reid placed second in the long jump at 18-8.5, setting a personal record for herself in the event. She bettered her previous mark by over six inches.

The relays continue throughout the weekend.

Highlanders Continue Improvement in San Diego, Los Angeles

(April 23, 2007) - Uchechi Egeonuigwe finished second place in the 400 hurdles, setting a new school record and earning an NCAA qualifying mark at 1:00.42.

Whitney Leachman set a personal record in the 100, finishing sixth in 12:13, and placed thrid in the 200 at 24.48.

At Cal State LA, Allison Wilder set a new school record in the women's triple jump at 40' 2.25", good for second place.

For the men, Nemo Simmons placed sixth in the 800 meters at 1:53.79, finishing in first place in his heat and sixth place overall.

David Rosenblatt earned a lifetime best in the hammer thrwo at 171' 9".

Highlanders Continue Improvement in San Diego, Los Angeles

(April 23, 2007) - The UC Riverside Highlanders track and field teams split their squads this past weekend and competed at the UC San Diego Invitational and at the Cal State Los Angeles Tommie "Tiny" Lister Classic. And in both cases, the teams continued their improvement as they move towards the Big West Championships and the postseason.

At UC San Diego,

Sophomore Uchechi Egeonuigwe finished second place in the 400 hurdles, setting a new school record and earning an NCAA qualifying mark at 1:00.42.

Junior Whitney Leachman set a personal record in the 100, finishing sixth in 12:13, and placed third in the 200 at 24.48.

Senior Erica Cosby posted a season best of 175'1" in the hammer, good for 14th.

At Cal State LA, freshman Allison Wilder set a new school record in the women's triple jump at 40' 2.25", good for second place.

For the men, junior Nemo Simmons placed sixth in the 800 meters at 1:53.79, finishing in first place in his heat and sixth place overall. Junior Ed Giles finished fifth in the 800 in 1:53.61.

Junior David Rosenblatt earned a lifetime best in the hammer throw at 171' 9".

Sophomore Greg Lemon placed sixth overall and second in his heat in the 400 in 48.75.

Egeonuigwe, Wilder Named Track & Field Athletes of the Week

(April 25, 2007) - Two members of the UC Riverside women's track and field team received recognition by the Big West Conference Wednesday.

The Big West Conference named sophomore Uchechi Egeonuigwe the Big West Track Athlete of the Week and freshman Allison Wilder the Big West Field Athlete of the Week.

Egeonuigwe (La Mirada, CA) set a school record in the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 60:42. The time is the best in the Big West this season and qualifies her for NCAA Regionals.

Wilder (Covina, CA) took set the Highlander record in the triple jump for the sixth time this season after coming up with a mark of 12.25 meters at the Tommy (Tiny) Lister Invitational in Los Angeles. She was the top collegiate finisher, second overall and has now finished first or second in every meet she has jumped in this season.

Highlander DMR Relay Shatters School Record at Drake Relays

(April 27, 2007) - The UC Riverside women's Distance Medley Relay team shattered the previous school record by over 20 seconds, finishing fourth on Friday at the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines, IA.

UCR's team completed the course in 11:15.28, breaking the old record of 11:38.28 set on March 28, 2006. The Highlanders trailed only Minnesota, Baylor, and Kansas State while beating major programs like Wisconsin, Iowa, Iowa State, and Indiana.

Sophomore Lisa Lopez led off the race, running the opening 1200m in 3:23.05, putting the Highlanders in second at the first exchange. Sophomore Ashley Williams then ran the 400m in 54.00 seconds, a new lifetime best, before handing off to junior Tajma Stephenson for the half-mile. Stephenson completed her leg in 2:10 and passed the baton to sophomore Brenda Martinez for the final mile. Martinez had UCR running in second until the final 200m, when Minnesota surged to the front.

"I am really proud of the girls to show this drastic improvement on the national stage and compete in front of 15,000 people," Head Coach Irv Ray said. "It was an excellent showing to be amongst some of the biggest programs in the country.

UCR's time puts it sixth in the nation this season.

On the men's side, UCR finished 12th in the 4x200 relay in 1:27.32. In the 4x400, the Highlanders placed 25th in 3:16.19. In the 4x800, UCR placed seventh in 7:34.19.

The Highlanders also competed at the Steve Scott Invitational in Irvine, but no results were available as of press time.

Highlanders Compete at Drake Relays, Steve Scott Invitational

(April 28, 2007) - Saturday marked the UC Riverside men's day to show what they could do at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, IA, and while the men did not quite have the same record breaking day that the women had the day before, they still ran well, including strong debut marks in the sprint medley relay and distance medley relay.

In the men's sprint medley relay, the Highlanders finished 17th in 3:26.54 behind the efforts of Antoine Murray, A.J. Jacobson, Greg Lemon and Derek Somerville.

The men's distance medley relay placed 11th in 10:04.31 behind Pedro Ramos, Ed Giles, Nemo Simmons and Raul Lara.

In the 4x800, Simmons, Giles, Ramos and Lara finished in 7:34.19.

The men's marks in the DMR, SMR and 4x800 were school records.

The men's 4x400 relay team of Greg Lemon, Guillaume Mok, Ed Giles and A.J. Jacobson finished 25th overall in 3:16.19.

The lone woman to compete at Drake was Sarah Tesfaye in the women's 1,500, placed 10th overall in 4:32.80, setting a personal best in the event by six seconds

On Friday, the UC Riverside women's Distance Medley Relay team of junior Lisa Lopez, sophomore Ashley Williams, junior Tajma Stephenson and redshirt freshman Brenda Martinez. shattered the previous school record by over 20 seconds, finishing fourth. UCR's team completed the course in 11:15.28, breaking the old record of 11:38.28 set on March 28, 2006. The Highlanders trailed only Minnesota, Baylor, and Kansas State while beating major programs like Wisconsin, Iowa, Iowa State, and Indiana. UCR's time puts it sixth in the nation this season.

"Our fourth place finish is an amazing improvement. We cut over 20 seconds on the time and are now posting a truly elite team performance," Ray said. "We should rank seventh in the nation in this event at the conclusion of the 2007 season, and even better, all four women on the team will be returning next season."

In the 4x800 relay later in the day, the Highlanders placed third overall and will be ranked 12th in the nation after completing the race in 8:44.29. The Highlanders put together what Ray called a "miracle finish" to place third. After a tough first leg by Williams in which she struggled to pass the baton, the Highlanders were in last among the 16 teams. Stephenson followed with a 2:12 split that moved UCR into the top-10. Lopez followed with a 2:09 split to go into the top six. Martinez then ran the final leg, catching Florida's anchor runner just three meters shy of the finish line.

"It was one of the greatest come-from behind relays that I have experienced," Ray said. "I am very proud of their effort, they never quit. "

On the men's side, UCR finished 12th in the 4x200 relay in 1:27.32. In the 4x400, the Highlanders placed 25th in 3:16.19. In the 4x800, UCR placed seventh in 7:34.19.

The Highlanders also competed at the Steve Scott Invitational in Irvine Friday and Saturday. Highlights included:

• Ucheichi Egeonuigwe torching the field in the 400 hurdles, posting a time of 61.38, bettering her nearest competitor by over two seconds.

• Whitney Leachman placing sixth in the 200 meters in 24.62, bettering her personal best by one hundreths of a second, then placing sixth in the 400 in 58.78, also a personal best.

• Danielle Evans finishing with a great final 400 meters to finish third in the 1500 meter run in 4:37.85, a personal best.

• Celene Reyes placing third in the 3000 steeplechase in 11:15.70.

• Allison Wilder finishing third in the triple jump at 39' 1.75".

• Erica Cosby placing fourth in the discus at 151' 9" and second in the hammer at 185' 2". Both marks are personal best, with the latter qualifying her for the NCAA regionals.

Additional PR's will be posted on Monday.

Highlanders Distance Medley Relay Team Reflects on Accomplishment

(May 5, 2007) - UC Riverside Track and Field fans are still buzzing over the performance of the Highlanders' Distance Medley Relay Team at the Drake Relays on April 28th. Running against elite NCAA competition, the Highlanders completed the course in a school-record time of 11:15.28, bettering the previous school mark by over 20 seconds. The Highlanders placed fourth behind Minnesota, Baylor and Kansas State.

The distance medley relay consists four legs run at 1,200, 400, 800 and 1,600 meters.

"Our 11:15 time in the DMR is truly a national elite performance," UCR Head Coach Irv Ray said. "To have UCR on the same list with teams from the Big 10, Big 12, ACC, SEC and to be the only mid-major 1-AA team on the is amazing."

"I wish the whole UCR family could have been there to experience the excitement, to see what these women have done and how much they have improved. It is important how difficult it is to be able to compete and be successful on this national stage. Their performance at Drake should make everyone at UCR proud."

The UCR Media Relations Office sat down with three members of the relay team, sophomore Ashley Williams, sophomore Lisa Lopez and redshirt freshman Brenda Martinez as they looked back on their achievement this week. Junior Tajma Stephenson was unavailable.

What was the experience of running at the Drake Relays like?

Ashley Williams ­ "This was my second year participating in Drake Relays and it was a great experience for me as a runner. The chance to run against nationally ranked athletes, and athletes from outside our conference, has opened my eyes to what competition really is. It has helped to motivate me, it helps me to run to my fullest capability and encourages me to be just as good as these elite athletes."

Lisa Lopez ­ "Being able to compete with nationally ranked teams, and beating many of those teams was a huge accomplishment. I was confident because my training was going well and that helped prepare myself mentally for racing against the competition."

Brenda Martinez ­ "This was my first experience to go to a wonderful event with many talented runners from around the country. It was something I will never forget. The experience was awesome. "

Your team shattered the school record by over 20 seconds. Were you aware of how well you were running as a group? How did the run feel from your perspective?

Lopez ­ "It felt good because I am used to running the 1,500 meters, so having one less lap for the 1,200 meters gave me a slight edge mentally. Being the first leg gave me some pressure to make sure my team was in the mix and that I didn’t let them down. (Once the race started) I knew we were doing well because we were competing well and we were moving up in the race. We didn’t have a set time we were shooting for, we just wanted to show what UCR could do on the big stage."

Williams ­ "At the moment, I was not aware of how well I was running. I knew that we were off to a great start and because of where we were when I received the baton, I knew that we would end up breaking the school record."

Martinez ­ "I was confident that we could break the school record because we trained hard for it and did enough preparations that would show on the track. I was the anchor, and just watching my teammates compete before me. I had a "good" anxiousness, kind of a weird feeling inside of me. I kept telling myself before I got the baton that 'we're going do to it, we are going to execute the plan'. Overall, the run felt good but it could have gone better."

Do you have any specific memories of your portion of the race?

Lopez ­ "I just kept telling myself to stay with the top girls, and as the field picked it up so did I. I didn’t want to let the race go by me, I wanted to stay in it not only for myself but for the team. I felt confident in my training and coach prepared us well. When I crossed the line I felt like I gave it all I had although I do wish I could have handed the baton off in first place as opposed to second."

Williams ­ "My leg was the 400 on the DMR, and it went by extremely fast. I did not get much time to think about the race as I was running. I just received the baton and started running. There were girls ahead of me that I was eager to catch and girls behind me that I did not want to pass me. With that mentality it helped me get through the race successfully."

Martinez ­ "I felt good; I got too excited the first lap of the mile; I came by at 66 seconds when my pace is 69; and it took a little toll on me at the end. My splits needed to be consistent in order for me to run a good time. My result time for the mile was 4:45 and if I would have just ran a smarter race; I believe I could have ran sub 4:40 or so."

How does it feel to be ranked seventh in the nation in this event? Describe the importance of this ranking to both yourself and your team.

Lopez ­ "It feels like all the hard work we have put it is paying off. We have run this race for three years and hadn’t been ranked in the top ten. Now we have accomplished that. This ranking shows that a school like UCR, that is not always in the limelight, can make a big impact in our sport, just like any of these other schools.

Williams ­ "Being ranked nationally is very good, but being ranked seventh in the nation is even better. Out of everybody that participated in the DMR throughout the nation, there are only six teams that are in front of us. This motivates me and and my teammates as well, to work harder and realize that we can be ranked even higher. This was a great eye-opener to us, because it helped us believe that with hard work and dedication we can be just as good as the team that is ranked first."

Martinez ­ "Being ranked seventh is just the start. I know our girls and I are capable of more because we have not yet met our full potential. We had a few weak legs and it was not our best performance; but it is understandable because not everyone is going to feel a 100% on race day. This ranking shows that with desire, determination, and with the right mind set, anyone can achieve anything. It all is worth it at the end."

Highlanders Warm Up for Post Season at Claremont

(May 7, 2007) - The UC Riverside Highlanders sent a small group of athletes to the Claremont Classic Track Meet at the campus of Claremont College Saturday. The Highlanders in attendance used the meet to attain Big West and NCAA qualifying times and marks in their events.

Highlights included freshman Jacqulyn Lewis jumping a personal best of 19'0" in the long jump, Antoine Murray setting a PR in the 100 in 11.00, Guillaume Mok recording a season best in the 400 in 49.63, and David Rosenblatt posting PR's in both the hammer (173' 5") and the discus (153'1").

A complete list of UCR's marks appears below:

Event - Place - Name - Mark - Wind - Heat
200 - 7 Treana Hundley UC Riverside 25.76 NWI 2
400- 7 Treana Hundley UC Riverside 57.85 1
1500 - 2 Cristina Olivas UC Riverside 4:39.90
400H - 8 Ugochi Azubuike UC Riverside 66.12 2
HJ - 2 Shannon Toliver UC Riverside 1.58m 5-02.25
LJ - 2 Jacqulyn Lewis UC Riverside 5.79m 3.1 19-00.00 PR and season best
Hammer - 4 Myla Hollyfield UC Riverside 50.65m 166-02
100 - 15 Antoine Murry UC Riverside 11.00 1.9 2 PR and season best
200 - 13 Antoine Murry UC Riverside 22.48 1.2 2
400 - 10 Guillaume Mok UC Riverside 49.63 2 season best
HJ - 3 Elvin Tabah UC Riverside 2.03m 6-08.00
TJ - 2 Staton Gibson UC Riverside 14.11m -0.3 46-03.50
Discus - 12 Thomas Caballero UC Riverside 46.94m 154-00
             13 David Rosenblatt UC Riverside 46.67m 153-01 PR and season best
Hammer - 11 David Rosenblatt UC Riverside 52.85m 173-05 PR and season best
               15 Thomas Caballero UC Riverside 48.12m 157-10

Lewis Named Big West Field Athlete of the Week

(May 8, 2007) - UCR freshman Jacquelyn Lewis has been named Big West Female Field Athlete of the Week, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Lewis set a personal best in the long jump at Claremont with a 19'0" effort on Saturday. The mark is tied for the sixth best jump in the Big West this season.

The award marks the fifth time this season that a Highlander track and field athlete has been honored. Redshirt freshman Brenda Martinez has won the track award twice (March 14 & 28), while sophomore Uchechi Egeonuigwe and Allison Wilder each won the wared the week of April 25.

Martinez, Lopez 1,500 Performance Highlights Big West Championship Meet

(May 13, 2007) - Redshirt freshman Brenda Martinez and junior Lisa Lopez's 1-2 finish in the 1,500 highlighted the day for the UC Riverside Track and Field teams at the Big West Conference Track and Field meet at Cal State Northridge Saturday.

Overall, the women finished in sixth place with 61.5 points and the men placed seventh with 21.5 points.

Martinez and Lopez drafted with each other in the 1,500, with Martinez pulling away for a nearly six second win in 4:23.87, a NCAA regional qualifying time. Lopez finished in 4:29.80, beating her nearest competitor by just over two seconds.

UCR sophomore Uchechi Egeonuigwe had another outstanding performance, finishing second in the 400 hurdles in 60.33, a regional qualifying time.

Other highlights for the Highlanders included:
Senior Celene Reyes was sixth in the steeplechase in 11:25.64.
The 4x100 relay team placed sixth in 49.05.
The 4x400 relay team placed third in 3:42.63.
Freshman Jacqulyn Lewis was fifth in the long jump at 19' 4.75".
Freshman Allison Wilder was third in the triple jump at 40' 0.5".
Senior Erica Cosby was sixth in the discus at 142' 9" and third in the hammer at 170' 6".
Sophomore Ashley Williams was fourth in the 800 in 2:13.27.
Sophomore Danielle Evans was fifth in the 800 in 2:13.29

For the men:
Senior Jon Moore placed third in the 400 hurdles in 52.81.
Junior Ed Giles placed sixth in the 800 in 1:52.72.
Freshman Marcus Marbrey was seventh in the 400 hurdles in 55:15.
The 4x400 relay team was sixth in 3:14.87.
Sophomore Elvin Tabah was seventh in the high jump at 6' 4.75".
Senior Craig Wood was seventh in the discus at 160' 9" and eighth in the hammer at 183' 8".

Martinez Named Big West Women's Track Freshman of the Year

(May 16, 2007) - UC Riverside redshirt freshman distance runner Brenda Martinez was named the Big West Conference Women’s Track Freshman of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday. The award caps a freshman campaign in which Martinez set two new school records and qualified for the NCAA Regionals in three separate events.

Martinez (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) was an impressive middle distance runner in her first season in a Highlander uniform. She blew away the field in the 1,500-meter run at last week’s Big West Championships, finishing the race in an NCAA Regional qualifying time of 4:23.87. Coming into the conference meet, she had already qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the event, having run a school-record 4:21.18 on March 31 at Stanford. She is also an NCAA qualifier in the 800-meter run. Her qualifying time in the 800 (2:06.76) at the Mt. SAC meet on April 13 was even more impressive considering she had never before run the event in a competition.

Martinez was twice named the Big West Women’s Track Athlete of the Week this season and also holds the school record in the 5000m (16:41.98). In addition, she anchored the 4x800m and Distance Medley Relay teams, the latter of which set a school record of 11:15.28 at the Drake Relays on April 27.

Martinez will compete this week at the NCAA West Regional Championships to be held May 25-26 at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.

Seven Highlanders Gear Up for NCAA Regional Appearance in Oregon

(May 21, 2007) - Seven members of the UC Riverside track and field team will compete at the NCAA West Regional in Eugene, OR this weekend. The seven, six women and one man, is the most individual athletes that UCR has ever qualified.

"The NCAA regionals are an elite level of competition, and each of our athletes are looking forward to the challenge to qualify for the NCAA Championships," Head Coach Irv Ray said.

The regionals begin on Friday, May 25 and continue on Saturday the 26th at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field.

UCR's seven qualifiers are listed below, with their event times in parenthesis.

Erica Cosby - Hammer - Her best mark of the season was an 185 ' 2" recorded on April 28, 2007 at the Steve Scott Invitational in Irvine. It is her personal best mark in the event. Cosby placed third in the hammer at the Big West Championships at 170' 6". The school record is of 189'11" is owned by Syreeta Waller, who achieved it at the West Regional in 2004. (Saturday - 11:15 a.m.)

Uchechi Egeonuigwe - 400 IH - Placed second in the 400 hurdles in 60.33 at the Big West Championship. The time was a new personal best as well as the school record. She broke her previous best of 60.45 set on April 8, 2006. (Prelims - Friday - 6:10 p.m., Finals - Saturday - 3:20 p.m.)

Melissa Genisauski - Discus- The junior entered the season with a career best of 130' 8" in the discus, but had a great 2007 season and earned a regional qualifying mark with her career best of 156' 10" at the UCSD Invitational on April 7, 2007. The school record, set by Syreeta Waller during the 2003 season, is 167' 3". (Saturday - 2:30 p.m.)

Lisa Lopez - 1,500 M - Finished second in the the Big West 1,500 behind teammate Brenda Martinez. Finished in 4:29.80. Her personal best in the event is a 4:24.61 recorded on April 13, 2007 at the Mt. SAC meet. (Prelims - Friday -3:15 p.m., Finals - Saturday - 2:00 p.m.)

Brenda Martinez - 1,500 M - Lopez's training partner took first at the Big West Championships, surging to a nearly six second win in 4:23.87. Good as that run was, it was still shy of her school record time of 4:21.18, set on March 31, 2007 at the Stanford Invitational. (Prelims - Friday -3:15 p.m., Finals - Saturday - 2:00 p.m.)

Tajma Stephenson - 800 M - Recorded her season best time of 2:08.62 at the Stanford Invitational on March 31, 2007. Also owns the school record in the event, recording a 2:05.92 time on June 4, 2006. (Prelims - Friday, 5:30 p.m., Finals - Saturday, 3:00 p.m.)

Craig Wood - Hammer- Threw a school-record 191' 8" at the Mt. SAC event on April 14, 2007. He has radically improved on his previous best mark of 177' 1" set back in 2005. Wood is coming off of an eighth place finish in the hammer at the Big West Championships at 183' 8". (Friday - 1:20 p.m.)

At the regional, the top five finishers (that also declare for the national meet) in each event automatically gain entry into the national championships, to be held beginning May 24 in Sacramento, CA. The national field will also usually have five to eight at-large bids to fill in each event. Those who are at the top of the national descending order list, and who do not automatically qualify will be the first at-large bids into the national championships, provided they finish in the top 12 of their respective event in the regional (and participate and finish a final in which they were entered).

Martinez Qualifies for Finals in 1,500 at NCAA Regionals

(May 25, 2007) - Redshirt freshman Brenda Martinez won her preliminary heat in the 1,500 at the NCAA West Regional Track and Field meet in Eugene, OR, Friday and will now advance to Saturday's finals.

Martinez won her heat in 4:22.87, giving her an automatic pass into the finals. The time was better than her 4:23.87 in the Big West Championships, but still under her school record time of 4:21.18. The runners covered the first 800M in 2:21 with five runners in the lead pack. Martinez made her move down the stretch, moving past UNLV's Charlotte Browning in the final moments to win the race.

Teammate Lisa Lopez, a junior, finished seventh in the same heat in 4:28.52, missing a spot in the finals by two places. Martinez returned to the track later in the day for the 5,000 meters, placing 16th in 17:11.88.

Martinez also competed in the 5,000, placing 16th in 17:11.88.

Senior Craig Wood completed his collegiate career with a 28th place finish in the hammer. He threw 174' 9".

Junior Tajma Stephenson finished sixth in the first heat of the 800, finishing in 2:10.56, 15th overall among all competitors. She was in the top three in the early going, but fell back in the final 150 meters.

Sophomore Uchechi Egeonuigwe placed second in her heat of the 400 hurdles, finishing in 1:00.92, just one second behind first-place Chelsea Shapard of Utah. However, that one second proved to be too large a deficit, as she finished 14th overall after the four heats.

The meet continues on Saturday.

Highlanders Complete 2007 Season at Regionals in Eugene

(May 26, 2007) - The UC Riverside Highlanders track and field teams concluded their season Saturday at the NCAA West Regionals in Eugene, OR.

Redshirt freshman Brenda Martinez placed 11th in the 1,500 in 4:30.82, completing her third distance race of the weekend. Martinez won her 1,500 prelim and then placed 16th in the 5,000 finals on Friday.

Senior Erica Cosby finished 13th in the hammer at 181' 8.

Junior Melissa Genisauski placed 19th in the discus at 147' 4".

Martinez Wins Elite 800 at USA Track and Field Southern California Championships

(June 4, 2007) - Redshirt freshman Brenda Martinez set a new school record and better her personal best by two seconds as she won the Rose Monday Invitational Elite 800 in a time of 2:04.22 at the USA Track and Field Southern California Championships at Occidental College Sunday.

In addition to setting the new school mark, Martinez qualifies for the USA Track and Field Nationals in Indianapolis, IN on June 20-24 and qualifies for the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR.

Junior Lisa Lopez placed fourth in her section and 10th overall in the 800 in 2:07.76, a new personal best.

Freshman Allison Wilder qualified for the US Junior Nationals by winning the triple jump with a 39' 9.75" effort. Freshman Jackie Lewis was third in the long jump at 18' 5,75".

Freshman Uchechi Egeonuigwe won the 400 hurdles in 61.03 and junior Whitney Leachman was sixth overall in the 200 in 24.75.

Sophomore Andrew Jacobson placed ninth overall and first in his heat in the 400 in 48.99 and junior Ed Giles was 10th in his heat and 34th overall in the 800 in 1:53.36.

Nathan Browne Appointed Full-Time Assistant Track & Field Coach at UCR

(June 5, 2007) - Nathan Browne has been promoted to full-time assistant track and field and cross country coach, Head Coach Irv Ray announced Tuesday.

Browne is a familiar face to Highlander fans, as he has served as a part-time assistant coach with the program since the summer of 2003.

"We are very excited to have Nathan Browne joining our staff in a full-time capacity," Ray said. "He has a wealth of experience with mid- and long-distance, and sprints. We are looking forward to his contribution as our track and field and cross country programs continue to move up in the Big West."

Browne was an 11-time collegiate All-American while at Cal Baptist. He was the national runner up in the indoor 800 and ran on four national champion 4x800 and distance medley relay teams. He has a personal best of 1:49 in the 800 and 47.2 in the 400. He graduated from CBU in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with information systems emphasis.

Browne replaces Rickey Etheridge, who left UCR at the conclusion of the season to pursue employment opportunities in the private sector.