UC Riverside Women's Track & Field Ranked No. 42 In The Nation

Brenda Martinez Ranked No. 2 In 800m

(April 10, 2008) – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) released its first Division I Outdoor Rankings for the 2008 Track & Field Season, and the Highlanders Women's Track & Field team currently ranks No. 42 in the nation. UCR is the top rated team among Big West Conference institutions and ranks ahead of several programs with longstanding athletics reputations such as North Carolina (No. 43), Kentucky (45), South Carolina (46), Alabama (51) and Georgia Tech (67). The rankings take into account the times and scores of all track and field athletes who have qualified for NCAA regional competition.

Highlanders' sophomore Brenda Martinez is ranked second in the nation in the 800m (2:05.54), fifth in the 1500 (4:19.81) and sixth in the 5000m (16:27.51). Junior Cristina Olivas is 13th in the steeple (10:38.45), senior Lisa Lopez is 15th in the 800m (2:08.40) and junior Uchechi Egeonuigwe is 23rd in the 400m hurdles.

Also scoring points for the Highlanders are sophomore Allison Wilder who is 38th in the triple jump (12.45m, 4-' 10.25") and senior Melissa Genisauski who ranks 42nd in the discus (48.75m, 159' 11").

The UCR Men's and Women's Track teams next compete in the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner Kersee Invitational at UCLA from April 10-12.

Complete NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Track and Field Rankings