March 8, 2003
FULLERTON, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara athletes posted several marks that either qualified or improved a previous qualifier for the Big West Conference meet at a non-scoring invitational Friday and Saturday at Fullerton. Distance runners led the assault at 1500 meter and 5000 meter. In the 1500 meter, Jeff Gardina took control of the second heat at the 800 meter mark and won the race in 3:55.55, the second fastest time of the day. Junior DJ Ozan took second in the first heat in 3:55.85 and senior Aaron Sharp (3:57.92) also dipped under the conference standard of 3:54.27. Fifth year senior Darren Salmi achieved the men's standard at 5000 meter, knocking over 30 seconds off his lifetime best in the 5K with a 14:57.80 clocking.
UCSB throws coach John Dagata won the hammer on Friday with a lifetime best 207-10. Dagata eclipsed his previous best by 11 feet and stands less than eight feet off the USATF National qualifying mark of 215-9. Freshman phenon Eugene Bradley was the top Gaucho in the event, throwing 154-9, just off the conference standard of 160-0. Junior Richie Alpers set PRs in the shot put (46-5.50) and discus (141-6.00). Both marks surpassed the Big West standard.
Other Big West marks for the men included Mark Martello,clearing 15-0 to win the second flight of the pole vault and freshman Kent Centers, improving his season best in the high jump to 6-6.75. Cheyne Murray throw 163-05 to finish fourth in the discus.
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UCSB's next competitions are the Baldy Castillo Invitational at Arizona State March 21-22 and the Cal Poly Invitational March 22.
