RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UC San Diego track and field team will continue competition at the Chris Rinne Twilight meet in Riverside, Calif. on April 2. Hosted by UC Riverside, a total of five teams will take part, including – Seattle University, Montana State, UC Riverside, Western New Mexico, and UC San Diego. University of San Diego will have a handful of women racing as well. 
 
DETAILS
at Chris Rinne Twilight 
Fri. April 2 • All Day
UC Riverside Track & Field Stadium • Riverside  
Watch Live | Live Results | Schedule
 
UC SAN DIEGO AND COVID-19
UC San Diego's nationally renowned Return to Learn program was created to return to in-person teaching, learning, conducting pioneering research and serving our communities in the safest way possible. The program has three adaptive pillars that are central to our strategy to resume on-campus activity: risk mitigation, viral detection, and intervention.

For the latest information on UC San Diego and COVID-19, please visit the University's Return to Learn site.

ATTENDING THE MEET
Per current COVID-19 safety guidelines and protocols implemented by UC Riverside, spectators are not permitted to attend home meets at UC Riverside Track & Field Stadium at this time.

CHRIS RINNE TWILIGHT HISTORY
It will be the first time in program history that UC San Diego makes an appearance at the Chris Rinne Twilight.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Tritons opened their 2021 campaign at the 42nd Annual Aztec Invite, a meet they have been participating in for the last 14 years. In attendance were some of the top teams and individuals in the nation including Pac-12 powerhouses No. 10 Oregon and No. 5/No. 4 (men/women) USC. Overall, UC San Diego's men placed sixth (74 points), while the women came in eighth (29.50 points).
 
Although a challenging debut, several UC San Diego scholar-athletes contributed points to the 20 events scored, adding to their team's total.
 
Senior Blake Walkowiak finished third in the discus thanks to a 167'9" toss. In the 110-hurdles, against a tough field, sophomore Kalobe Jimenez took seventh, dashing through the line in 14.78 seconds. Tallying two points for the blue and gold, Jimenez also entered the program's all-time record books at number nine.
 
Sophomore distance runner Gabe Reuter recorded eight points as he finished second in the 5000 (14:56.29). Fellow women's teammates junior Sidney Hendricks and sophomore Leila Keyvan went back-to-back at second and third in the 3000 steeplechase, good for eight and six points, respectively.
 
ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons competing as an NCAA Division II team, the entire athletics program has begun a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of the Big West Conference for the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, all sports will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
 
RETURNING 2020 CCAA ALL-STARS
The Tritons return seven standouts that were voted as 2020 CCAA All-Stars for their pro-qualifying performances, prior to the abrupt cancelation of the season.
 
On the men's side, Blake Walkowiak (throws), Evan Shimasaki (pole vault), Maxamilian Halvax (sprints), Nathan Yoder (jumps), and Leyikun Solomon (hurdles) were recognized. In addition, Devin Lecakes-Jones (throws), also honored, looks to capitalize on an extra year of eligibility as he returns for another senior season.
 
For the women, Naomi Chin (pole vault) is the lone female CCAA All-Star award-winner who returns for the blue and gold.

REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
In 2020, UC San Diego boasted numerous productions that bypassed the all-time marks in Triton history.
 
Walkowiak's lengthy 173'1" toss in the discus became the second-best mark at UC San Diego. In the pole vault, Shimasaki cleared 16'6.75" to tie the program's record and Lecakes-Jones earned the fourth slot in the shot put (53'11"). Halvax, alongside his 4x400 relay group, exhibited tremendous speed as expected, bumping up to third all-time, cross the finish line in 3-minutes, 14.81-seconds.
 
For a full look at the record books, click here.
 
OPTING OUT
So far, two Tritons have opted out of participation this season due to COVID-19. Junior sprinter Richie Caragao and sophomore sprinter Danika Pagaduan will sit out the 2020-21 season.
 
SUCCESS IN DIVISION II
Over the past 20 years, as members of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), the track and field squad took home a combined six CCAA team titles (women: 5, men: 1), as well as 15 CCAA runners-up and 171 individual or relay conference championships. 
 
Just after four meets in 2020, UC San Diego had eight individuals who posted pro-qualifying marks, proficient scores that would likely take them to Nationals. Among 13 events, multiple individuals and relay teams surpassed personal bests or become prevalent in the Triton all-time record books.
 
KALT FAMILY TIES
Sophomore Gloria Kalt is proudly following in the footsteps of her mom Renée, UC San Diego's 1995 DIII Long Jump National Champion. Renée was the best long jumper in the country in 1995 after an impressive 18'9.25" winning leap at the NCAA's. After 25 years, the mark remains tied for fifth in the record books and a feat Gloria is working hard to beat one day. Read about their mother-daughter connection, the track program's continued family culture, and more, here.

100-PLUS YEARS AT THE HELM 
100-plus years of combined coaching experience sits at the helm of the UC San Diego track and field program. Four coaches in particular have bled blue and gold for quite some time. Head Coach Tony Salerno of the men's team approaches his 22nd year at the top, while Head Coach Darcy Ahner enters her 14th stint leading the women. Sprint Coach Mick Gieskes begins his 25th year overall and Distance Coach Nate Garcia embarks on season 19 between cross country and track. For more on the Triton coaching staff, click here. 

WHAT'S NEXT
UC San Diego looks forward to hosting its very own Triton Invitational on April 10 at Triton Track and Field Stadium in La Jolla. The meet will feature CSUN, UC Riverside, San Diego State's women, and UC San Diego throughout the entire day.  For the full track and field schedule, click here. More events will be added as they are confirmed.  
 
UC SAN DIEGO ATHLETICS LAUNCHES WEEKLY PODCAST
As part of UC San Diego's transition to Division I, the Athletics Department launched a weekly podcast, Tritoncast. Produced by UC San Diego Athletics Communications, Tritoncast features in-depth interviews with UC San Diego personalities including scholar-athletes, alums, coaches, and administrators. Triton fans will get an inside look at the UC San Diego Athletics Department as the program transitions to NCAA Division I and the Big West Conference. New episodes of Tritoncast are available each week on the most popular podcasting apps, including Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn. In addition, each episode can be heard and downloaded on UCSDTritons.com. For individual show information and listen links, follow Tritoncast on Twitter @Tritoncast.
 
FOLLOW THE TRITONS
Keep up with the Tritons all season long on social media through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The team's handle is @UCSDtrackfield.

GEAR 
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, visit the official team store of the Tritons here.

FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
 
Return To Sport… Safely
In order for UC San Diego scholar-athletes to be permitted to return to training and competition safely and within federal, state, local and university guidelines, the athletic department implemented a number of measures designed to complement and enhance the university's highly-successful Return To Learn program.  Notable actions include being physically distanced when practical, including during out-of-season training sessions; wearing masks, except when undergoing physically strenuous exercise; and maintaining proper hygiene.  Athletes, coaches and staff are testing at a higher frequency than the campus population, teams adhere to CDC, NCAA and Big West Conference guidelines and department officials participate in regular meetings with conference and university-affiliated physicians and the UC San Diego emergency operations staff.