The Blue-Green rivalry was in full effect Saturday when the UCSB track and field team split its dual meet with Cal Poly at Westmont College.

The men’s team dominated in all categories, winning nine individual events and taking a series sweep in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relay races. The Gauchos sealed the deal, finishing the day with a score of 107 to 96. This successful track meet win pushes the men’s regular season record to an impressive 9-1 in dual meet competition.

On the women’s side, the Gauchos also had a strong outing, winning seven individual events but were not able hold off the late surging Mustangs as Cal Poly pulled away with a final score of 108.5 to 89.5. The women fall to 5-5 on the year in dual meet play.

The meet was bittersweet for UCSB as the men’s team took their fifth consecutive win against Cal Poly while the women’s team suffered their first loss since 2009. The loss snapped UCSB’s five consecutive victories over their Central Coast opponent.

Despite the split, both teams rose to the occasion in this intense rivalry meet. Shaving almost 15 seconds off her personal best, senior Dani Moreno clinched the women’s 3,000m victory with a time of 9:41.70. It was a fight to the finish between Moreno and Cal Poly runner Molly Haar until Moreno took the lead with two laps to go. Haar finished second with a time of 9:46.84.

The senior moves her way to second place all-time in UCSB history with her performance, slowly creeping on record holder and current Assistant Coach Amanda Moreno.

The throwing duo of Hanna Person and Kayla O’Brine also made an impact for the Gauchos in the hammer competition. Person took first place with her mark of 176’5. Freshman O’Brine followed up Person’s solid play, finishing second in the hammer with a mark of 160’0.25.

Senior Oscar Pearson made history in the triple jump competition. After trailing in the final round against Cal Poly’s Ricky Strehlow, Pearson leaped a personal best 47’10, taking the event win for his team. Pearson now holds the seventh spot all-time in UCSB history.

Senior Albert Hughes once again solidified his spot in the Big West with a victory in the hammer competition. The senior threw a mark of 198’9 to take the win, making it his 12th event win in his collegiate career and third consecutive win in the Blue-Green rivalry.

Thomas Gore-Schreck delivered another exciting performance in the javelin event with his mark of 224’3. The senior finished his final Blue-Green rivalry match with a win and continues to be red hot as the season winds down.

The Gauchos will switch gears and have a hard working week of practice as they get set for the Big West heptathlon and decathlon this weekend. The Big West Combined Events Championship will be held at UC Riverside this upcoming Friday and Saturday. Action begins at 1 p.m. with the 100m hurdles.

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