May 29, 2008

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - NORTHRIDGE EARNS 25 SPOTS IN NCAA WEST REGIONALS The Cal State Northridge men's and women's track and field teams head to the NCAA West Region Championships beginning Friday, May 30. The Matadors won't have to travel far as the two-day championship meet takes place at the Matador Track Complex. The Regional Championship opens with the women's hammer on Friday at 10 a.m. and concludes on Saturday with the men's 4x400 relay at 6:25 p.m. The Northridge women are coming off their third consecutive Big West Championship, while the Matador men finished second.

MEET RESULTS Live meet results following each event of the NCAA West Region Championships will be posted on the West Regional page at www.GoMatadors.com with complete results available at the end of each day.

MATADOR MEN'S PREVIEW Senior DaShalle Andrews and freshman Reindell Cole lead the Matador men into the NCAA West Regional this weekend. Andrews, the defending NCAA Outdoor Long Jump champion and Cole, the defending NCAA Indoor Long Jump champion, bring a solid one-two punch into the championships. Cole, who added the Big West Long Jump championship to his resumé, owns the best mark in the nation this season at 8.17 meters. Andrews comes in as the eighth-ranked long jumper in a solid field. Senior Thomas Ross also comes in with a solid time of 13.65 in the 110 meter hurdles. Ross, a two-time Big West champion, ranks third in the West Region behind Kevin Craddock of UCLA (13.46) and Kai Kelley of USC (13.51). Junior Bradley Ike could also contend as he qualifies in both the 100 and 200 meters. Also on the track, the Matadors' 4x100 realy team holds the fifth fastest time in the Regional at 40.01 which is also a school record. In addition to Cole and Andrews, the Matadors will look to their throwers in the field events. Cody Pearce makes his third straight appearance in the hammer along with teammate Nick Saylor while Big West Champions Derek Cooper (discus) and Alex Butler (shot put) will look to challenge a tough field. Cooper earned a berth in both the discus and shot.

MATADOR WOMEN'S PREVIEW The Northridge women will be led by Big West 100 and 200 meter champion Sherrina Lofton. Lofton ranks sixth in the 100 meters and fifth in the 200 heading into the Regionals. Sophomore Shelese Ruffin looks to improve on her Big West championship run in the 400 meters as she is the seventh-ranked sprinter in the event. Senior Ashleigh McGrew, who is making her fourth straight trip to the West Regionals, comes in ranked 13th in the 100 meter hurdled and looks to close her career with a fast time. The Northridge 4x100 and 4x400 relays are also in contention as the Matadors rank fifth in the 4x100 and sixth in the 4x400. Sophomore Desirae Gonder, who finished an impressive second in the Big West high jump with a lifetime-best 1.84 meters, looks to be peaking at the right time and is jumping on her home track. Senior Krystal Quinn, the Northridge record holder in the pole vault, ranks 15th but looks to challenge a solid pole vault field. In the throws, junior Morgan Bogard qualifies in both the discus and hammer while freshman Whitney Hooks ranks 16th in the shot. Always strong in the hammer, the Matadors will be represented by Bogard, Big West champion Raquel Sola and senior Tatiana Crochet. Sophomore Stephanie Ralls looks to continue her late season push in the javelin as she comes in ranked 13th.

Morgan Bogard THROWS 5-9, JUNIOR LA MESA, CALIF. UNIV. OF SAN DIEGO HS SAN DIEGO MESA JC

HOW SHE GOT HERE Bogard qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in both the hammer and discus ... threw a season-best 191-4 (58.32) in the hammer at the Northridge Invitational (Mar. 15) ... her mark ranks 10th out of 24 competitors at the Regional ... threw a season-best 157-8 (48.07) in the discus at the Cal-Nevada Championships (Mar. 29) ... her mark ranks 12th out of 18 competitors at the Regional ... finished second in the Big West in the hammer (55.49) and was sixth in the discus (45.85).

Dominique Calvin SPRINTS/JUMPS 5-7, JUNIOR LITTLEROCK, CALIF. LITTLEROCK HS

HOW SHE GOT HERE Calvin will be among six Matador sprinters available for the 4x100 meter relay ... Northridge won the Big West title in the 4x100 relay in a time of 45.00 and comes in ranked fifth in the Regional ... equaled her lifetime-best in the 100 meters (11.84) in the Big West prelims (May 16) ... this is Calvin's second appearance at the NCAA West Regionals, the other was in 2007.

Tanisha Cooper SPRINTS 5-3, JUNIOR RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIF. RANCHO CUCAMONGA HS

HOW SHE GOT HERE Cooper will be among six Matador sprinters available for the 4x400 meter relay ... Northridge won the Big West title in the 4x400 relay in a time of 3:37.95 and comes in ranked sixth in the Regional ... ran her lifetime-best in the 400 meters (56.89) at the Mt. SAC Relays (Apr. 17-20).

Tatiana Crochet THROWS 5-7, SENIOR BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. BEVERLY HILLS HS

HOW SHE GOT HERE Crochet qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in the hammer throw ... finished second to teammate Raquel Sola at the Big West Championship after throwing a career-best 186-7 (57.17) ... her mark in the hammer ranks 13th out of 24 competitors at the Regional ... this is Crochet's third trip to the NCAA Regionals after also qualifying in 2005 and 2006.

Julie Eze SPRINTS/HURDLES 5-6, SENIOR RIALTO, CALIF. EISENHOWER HS

HOW SHE GOT HERE Eze qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in the 400 meter hurdles ... finished second in the 400 hurdles at the Big West Championship in a season-best time of 60.08 ... her time coming in to the Regional ranks 12th out of 21 competitors ... owns a lifetime-best 400 hurdle time of 59.94 ... this is her second trip to the NCAA Regionals after also qualifying in the 400 hurdles in 2007.

Desirae Gonder JUMPS 5-5, SOPHOMORE BAKERSFIELD, CALIF. STOCKDALE HS

HOW SHE GOT HERE Gonder qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in the high jump will be among six Matador sprinters available for the 4x400 meter relay ... finished second in the high jump at the Big West Championship after posting a lifetime-best 6-0.50 (1.84) ... her height in the high jump ranks third out of 16 competitors at the Regional ... ran the third leg of the Big West champion 4x400 relay that finished in a time of 3:37.95 which ranks sixth heaging into the Regional ... a season and lifetime-best 57.18 in the 400 meters at the Tiny Lister Classic at Cal State LA (Apr. 26).

Whitney Hooks THROWS 5-10, FRESHMAN EVERETT, WASH. CASCADE HS UNIV. OF WASHINGTON

HOW SHE GOT HERE Hooks qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in the shot put ... finished third in the shot at the Big West Championship after throwing 46-5 (14.07) ... threw a season-best 47-6.25 (14.47) at the Trojan Invitational at USC (Mar. 22) ... her mark in the shot ranks 16th out of 17 competitors at the Regional.

Sherrina Lofton SPRINTS 5-8, SOPHOMORE FAIRFIELD, CALIF. FAIRFIELD HS

HOW SHE GOT HERE Lofton qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in both the 100 and 200 meters as well as both relays ... was named Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Year ... won the Big West title in both the 100 and 200 meters ... ran a wind-legal lifetime-best 11.58 in the 100 meters in the Big West prelims ... also ran a career-best 23.50 to win the 200 ... ran the second leg of the conference champion 4x100 relay and ran the anchor leg of the 4x400 relay champion ... her 100 meter time ranks sixth out of 14 competitors and her 200 time ranks fifth out of 11 competitors at the Regional.

Ashleigh McGrew HURDLES 5-7, SENIOR ELK GROVE, CALIF. SHELDON HS

HOW SHE GOT HERE McGrew qualifies for NCAA West Regional in the 100 meter hurdles ... finished second in the 100 hurdles at the Big West Championship after running a time of 14.14 ... ran a season-best 13.88 in the Big West prelims ... her time in the 100 hurdles ranks 13th out of 18 competitors at the Regional ... owns a lifetime-best time of 13.87 ... this is McGrew's fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Regionals.

Shaleisha Mitchell SPRINTS 5-2, FRESHMAN PALMDALE, CALIF. PALMDALE HS

HOW SHE GOT HERE Mitchell will be among six Matador sprinters available for the 4x100 meter relay ... Northridge won the Big West title in the 4x100 relay in a time of 45.00 and comes in ranked fifth in the Regional ... ran her lifetime-best in the 100 meters (11.88) in the Big West prelims (May 16) ... went on to finish seventh in the Big West final at 12.09.

Tara Prier SPRINTS 5-5, FRESHMAN HOUSTON, TEXAS ALIEF TAYLOR HS

HOW SHE GOT HERE Prier qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in the 400 meters as well as part of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams ... ran a lifetime-best 54.61 to finish third at the Big West Championships ... her 400 meter time ranks 14th out of 15 competitors at the Regional ... Northridge won the Big West title in the 4x400 relay in a time of 3:37.95 and comes in ranked sixth in the Regional ... the Matadors' 4x100 relay team also won conference in a time of 45.00 and comes in ranked fifth in the Regional.

Krystal Quinn POLE VAULT/SPRINTS 5-5, SENIOR PALMDALE, CALIF. PALMDALE HS ANTELOPE VALLEY JC

HOW SHE GOT HERE Quinn qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in the pole vault as well as one of the six available sprinters in the 4x400 meter relay ... won the Big West title in the pole vault at 12-7.50 (3.85) ... broke her own school record with a vault of 13-1.50 (4.00) at both the Trojan Invitational (Mar. 22) and the Cal State LA Open (Apr. 16) ... ranks 15th out of 34 pole vaulters ... this is Quinn's second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Regionals.

Stephanie Ralls THROWS 5-9, SOPHOMORE DEER ISLAND, ORE. ST. HELENS HS

HOW SHE GOT HERE Ralls qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in the javelin ... finished second in the Big West Championship in the javelin after throwing a career-best 154-11 (47.21) ... her mark in the javelin ranks 13th out of 24 competitors at the Regional ... this is Ralls' second straight appearance in the NCAA West Regionals.

Shelese Ruffin SPRINTS 5-7, SOPHOMORE BANNING, CALIF. BEAUMONT HS

HOW SHE GOT HERE Prier qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in the 400 meters as well as part of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams ... ran a lifetime-best 53.80 to win the 400 meters at the Big West Championships ... her 400 meter time ranks seventh out of 15 competitors at the Regional ... Northridge won the Big West title in the 4x400 relay in a time of 3:37.95 and comes in ranked sixth in the Regional ... the Matadors' 4x100 relay team also won conference in a time of 45.00 and comes in ranked fifth in the Regional.

Raquel Sola THROWS 5-9, JUNIOR MADRID, SPAIN FOMENTO-FUNDACION

HOW SHE GOT HERE Sola qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in the hammer throw ... led a Northridge 1-2-3 finish in the Big West hammer after winning the competition with a mark of 189-7 (57.79) ... threw a lifetime-best 193-11 (59.11) at the Cal-Nevada Championships (Mar. 28) ... her mark ranks ninth out of 24 hammer throwers ... this is Sola's third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Regionals.

DaShalle Andrews JUMPS 6-3, SENIOR PHOENIX, ARIZ. MOON VALLEY HS

HOW HE GOT HERE The defending NCAA Outdoor Long Jump champion, Andrews qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in both the long jump and triple jump ... jumped a season-best 25-1.75 (7.66) in the long jump at the Steve Scott Invitational (May 4) and posted a season-best 51-5 (15.67) in the triple jump at the Big West Championship ... finished second in both events at the Big West Championships ... will also be available for the Matadors' 4x100 relay team ... his long jump mark ranks eighth out of 17 competitors and his triple jump ranks sixth out of 17 competitors at the Regional ... this is Andrews' fourth trip to the West Regionals and he is seeking his third trip to the NCAA Championships.

Alex Butler THROWS 5-11, JUNIOR ORANGE, CALIF. EL MODENA HS

HOW HE GOT HERE Butler qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in the shot put ... won the Big West shot put title with a personal-best mark of 58-4.75 (17.80) ... his shot put mark ranks 13th out of 22 competitors at the Regional ... this is Butler's second trip to the West Regionals after qualifying for the hammer throw in 2007.

Reindell Cole SPRINTS/JUMPS 6-3, FRESHMAN LAS VEGAS, NEV. DESERT PINES HS

HOW HE GOT HERE Cole, the defending NCAA Indoor Long Jump champion, won the Big West title in the long jump with a mark of 25-2 (7.67) ... jumped a lifetime-best 26-9.75 (8.17) which leads the nation ... his mark leads the West Region by 0.21 meters ... also is among six Matador sprinters in the pool for the 4x100 relay ... Northridge is ranked fifth in the region with a top time of 40.01.

Derek Cooper THROWS 6-2, SOPHOMORE LAS VEGAS, NEV. DESERT PINES HS

HOW HE GOT HERE Cooper qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in both the shot put and discus ... won the Big West discus title with a mark of 179-0 (54.56) ... threw a personal-best 186-5 (56.83) at the Mt. SAC Relays ... his discus mark ranks eighth out of 25 discus throwers in the region ... finished second in the Big West shot put to teammate Alex Butler at 57-2 (17.42) ... owns a season and lifetime-best of 59-2.75 (18.05) which he posted at the Rafer Johnson Invitational ... his shot put mark ranks eighth out of 22 competitors at the Regional ... this is Cooper's second straight trip to the West Regionals.

Bradley Ike SPRINTS 6-1, JUNIOR POMONA, CALIF. DIAMOND RANCH HS

HOW HE GOT HERE Ike qualifies in both the 100 and 200 meters as well as the 4x100 meter relay ... ran a career-best 10.49 to finish second at the Big West Championships ... his 100 meter time ranks ninth among 13 sprinters at the Regional ... ran a lifetime-best 21.29 in the 200 at the Tiny Lister Classic at Cal State LA (Apr. 26) ... his 200 meter time ranks 14th out of 18 heading into the Regional ... also is among six Matador sprinters in the pool for the 4x100 relay ... Northridge is ranked fifth in the region with a top time of 40.01.

Kenjamine Jackson SPRINTS 5-9, JUNIOR AUBURN, WASH. KENTWOOD HS CLACKAMAS CC

HOW HE GOT HERE Jackson will be among six Matador sprinters available for the 4x100 meter relay ... Northridge finished second in the Big West in the 4x100 relay in school-record time of 40.01 and comes in ranked fifth in the Regional.

Kevin Nious SPRINTS 5-11, SENIOR ALAMEDA, CALIF. ALAMEDA HS SAN FRANCISCO CC

HOW HE GOT HERE Nious will be among six Matador sprinters available for the 4x100 meter relay ... Northridge finished second in the Big West in the 4x100 relay in school-record time of 40.01 and comes in ranked fifth in the Regional ... ran a career-best 47.58 to finish fourth at the Big West Championships.

Cody Pearce THORWS 6-2, JUNIOR FOLSON, CALIF. FOLSOM HS

HOW HE GOT HERE Pearce qualifies in the hammer throw at the NCAA West Regional ... threw a career-best 195-1 (59.47) in the hammer at the USC Trojan Invitational (Mar. 22) ... finished second in the Big West in the hammer in 2008 ... his hammer mark ranks 22nd out of 31 competitors at the Regional ... this is Pearce's third straight appearance in the NCAA Regionals.

Thomas Ross HURDLES/JUMPS 6-2, SENIOR CONVERSE, TEXAS NORTHPORT HS BARTON COUNTY CC

HOW HE GOT HERE Ross qualifies for the Regionals in the 110 meter hurdles ... ran a lifetime-best and Northridge record 13.65 in the 110 hurdles in the prelims of the Big West Championships ... went on to win the event for the second straight year in a time of 13.77 ... his time of 13.65 ranks third among 17 hurdlers heading into the Regional ... is making his second straight appearance in the West Regional after finishing sec ond in 2007.

Nick Saylor THROWS 6-3, SENIOR QUARTZ HILL, CALIF. QUARTZ HILL HS ANTELOPE VALLEY JC

HOW HE GOT HERE Saylor qualifies for the NCAA West Regional in the hammer throw ... he reached the Regional qualifying standard with a career-best throw of 188-7 (57.49) at the Big West Championships where he finished third ... won the Big West shot put title with a personal-best mark of 58-4.75 (17.80) ... his shot put mark ranks 29th out of 31 competitors at the Regional ... this is Saylor's second straight trip to the NCAA West Regionals after also qualifying for the hammer in 2007.

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