The UCSB track and field teams capped off their team season with the Big West Championship in Davis, CA this weekend. The men’s team placed fourth in the competition, while the women’s squad finished in fifth-place out of a pool of nine schools.

The Long Beach State 49ers dominated the meet on the male side with an outstanding score of 218.5 points.

The host school, UC Davis, won the day on the women’s side with a score of 194.

For the Gauchos, the men placed themselves just one spot off of the podium with a final score of 91 points. The women’s effort was enough to accrue 73 points of their own in the weekend’s events.

Junior Jessica Johnson gave her team a strong start with her time in the 400m race. Continuing her impressive performances that have come in the second half of the season, Johnson came in at a time of 54.29.

Sophomore Tori Tsolis followed Johnson’s example and added some points of her own with her second-place outing in the 1500m event. She finished with a time of 4:24.81, less than half of a second behind the leader.

Sophomore Sarah Schreck took the Gauchos under her wing with her incredible performance in the long distance, 10000m race.

Her time of 36:39.05 was fast enough to earn the second-place marking in the longest race of the meet. Along with Schrek, another sophomore, Maxine Goyette, turned in an outstanding piece in the 3000m steeplechase. She earned second place honors as well with her time of 10:48.13.

On the field side for the women, sophomore Melissa Rake had the story of the day in the javelin throw.

Rake stepped up to the line and heaved the spear 46.04m to land herself second in the event and, more importantly, first in the Gaucho record book.

Rake is one of many Gauchos this year to break a record as the team has consistently improved over the course of the season.

Junior Albert Hughes started the first day for the Gauchos at the Big West Championships with a second-place performance in the men’s hammer throw. Hughes unleashed a throw of 195’8, which earned him the silver medal this weekend, repeating his efforts from last year.

Junior Shyan Vaziri was up to his usual tricks this weekend, showing his speed in the 1500m race. The Gaucho who stands atop the school record book turned in a second-place effort with a time of 3:46.62.

This event finishes off the season for UCSB as a team, with individuals hoping for an invitation to compete in an NCAA event in the month to come.

A version of this article appeared on page 5 of May 19th, 2014th’s print edition of the Daily Nexus.

Photo courtesy of the Daily Nexus.