Oct. 17, 2006

Just days after the greatest combined team performances in Cross Country history at the Pre-NCAA Invitational, the UC Santa Barbara men's and women's cross country teams both made significant moves in this weeks polls by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Gaucho women finished fourth at the Pre-NCAA meet and defeated nine ranked teams, including at the time second-ranked Colorado. The performance moved them from No. 8 up to No. 7 in the National Poll. Seniors Lauren Christman (9th place), Lindsay Christman (16th) and Stephanie Rothsten (20th) led the Gaucho charge, which finished behind only No. 2 North Carolina State, No. 3 Michigan and No. 5 Wisconsin.



The UC Santa Barbara men went to Pre-Nationals in Indiana unranked and also took fourth place defeating 8 ranked teams in the process. UCSB's men jumped all the way to No. 13 in this week's USTFCCCA men's poll. None of UC Santa Barbara's runners finished in the top 10 in Indiana, but as a group, the Pack had three runners finish between 15th and 36th, and two more in the top 80. Senior Mike Chavez paced the Gauchos with his 15th-place finish. Fellow Seniors J.D. Krawczyk and Micah Tyhurst finished 32nd and 36th, respectively.



UC Santa Barbara cross country will next be vying for two conference titles on October 29 at the Big West Conference Championships at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.