June 7, 2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Senior Stephanie Rothstein, who was an instrumental part of the UC Santa Barbara women's cross country team that recorded its first top-10 NCAA finish in the fall, ran a 33:23.33 to finish fifth in the 10,000 meter run at the NCAA Track and Field Championships on Thursday. The finish gave the Gauchos four points in the team competition.

Rothstein, the UCSB and Big West record-holder in the event, finished slightly more than 15-seconds back of fourth-place finisher Amy Hastings of Arizona State. The winner of the event was sophomore Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech, who ran a 32:55.71. For the second consecutive year, Rothstein earned All-American honors with her finish.

UCSB senior Megan Lewis, who was actually seeded higher in the event than Rothstein, finished 14th with a time of 34:20.17. Although she did not garner any points, she finished in the upper half of the results.

As for UCSB's other competitors, senior Amy Haapanen will compete in the women's hammer throw finals on Friday, and senior Eugene Bradley will take part in the men's hammer throw finals, also on Friday.