The final active UCSD intercollegiate sport wound up its season this weekend when six members of the track and field team traveled to Edwardsville, Ill. for the NCAA Division II National Championships.
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James Nielson, Rob Ewanio, Steve Pease, John Wong, Audrey Sung and Meghan Scott were the six athletes showing Triton pride.
Just making it to this level was an achievement on its own, but the Tritons who traveled halfway across the country did not rest on their laurels.
The men had the most impressive showing. Overall, the team scored nine points for 28th place out of 54 schools that scored.
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Pease was the most successful of those wearing blue and gold. He placed third out of 15 competitors in the pole vault with a height of 4.8 meters or 15 feet, 9 inches.
“”That was huge,”” said head coach Tony Salerno. “”He competed extremely well.””
The top spot went to UC Davis’ Tony Moore, who rose to a height of 5.35 meters, or 17 feet, 6-1/2 inches.
Ewanio took some aggression out on the shot put, hurling the heavy ball 17.52 meters, or 57 feet, 5-3/4 inches, which was good enough for fifth place.
Ewanio’s distance was not only a personal record, but also a new UCSD record as well.
The top spot went to Curry Daweson of Angelo State, Texas, who shot the put 18.23 meters, or 59 feet, 9-3/4.
Nielson placed ninth out of 12 competitors in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:30.9.
“”He’s been extremely successful for us,”” Salerno said. “”It’s extremely competitive.””
The top time, by Michael Aish of Western University of Colorado, was 13:57.10.
Wong competed in the 1,500 meters, but did not make the finals.
The women scored three points overall and tied for 50th out of 59 schools that scored.
Sung finished sixth out of 12 runners in the 3,000 meters in a time of 10:07.68.
The top runner was Marjo Venalainen of Kennesaw State, Georgia, who completed the distance in 9:56.71.
Scott was competing in the first-ever women’s steeplechase but was unable to make the finals.
“”We were happy to get her in,”” Salerno said. “”She had some injury problems.””
The nationals wrapped up the year for the UCSD track and field team.
