The UCSB men’s and women’s track teams had different success over the weekend at the Big West Challenge Cup in Irvine on April 5.

The men’s team tied for second with Irvine at 147 points, while the women placed fourth at 145.5 points. Distance events helped push both teams into the top five as the men won the 800m and finished 1-2 at the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter events. The women won all three distance events and freshman Amy Haapanen set a new meet record in the shot put with a mark of 46′ 05″.

Freshman Tetlo Emmen beat out former Big West Champion senior Darrell Tozier of Irvine in the 800 meters with a time of 1:52.59. SophomoreJeff Gardina won the 1,500 meters in 3:58.27 and freshman Scott McConville came in second at 3:58.98. Seniors Aaron Sharp and J.T. Service traded leads during the 3,000 meters, with Sharp finally taking first at 8:29.89 and Service finishing in second at 8:31.07.

Freshman Kent Centers won the high jump at 6’8″, a season best for him. Centers came up just short of reaching the NCAA Regional qualifying mark of 6′ 9.5″ on his second attempt, but he did make the Big West mark in the high hurdles at 15:45.

Freshman Lauren Christman took three seconds off of her previous best in the women’s 800 meters, winning the event with a time of 2:14.06. Senior team captain Katie Appenrodt won the women’s 1,500 meters in 4:35.88, and also won the 3,000 meters with a personal best of 9:51.12. Junior Desiree De Jesus also set a personal best in the 3,000 meters, with her second place finish at 9:58.89.

Freshman Elise Geiger led the sprinters with a season best 12.39s in the 100 meters and 25.06s in the 200 meters. Freshman Kylie McCuen also recorded a season best in the 100 meters, at 12.44.

Long Beach State’s men and women’s team both placed first in the tournament. The men tallied 194 points and the women have 165. On the men’s side, Fullerton followed UCSB and Irvine. For the women, Fullerton placed second and Irvine finished third.

The UCSB men and women’s team head to San Diego State on Saturday and Sunday to compete in the Cal-Nevada at 11a.m.