NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - The UI women's track team dominated the competition to become the 2003 Big West Champions at Northridge, Calif. this weekend. The Vandals won nine individual championships on their way to 213 points. The nearest team, Cal Poly followed 84 points behind with 129 points.

Head coach Yogi Teevens was honored as Big West Coach of the Year and Angela Whyte was honored as Big West Female Track Athlete of the Year for her three individual championships, a relay title and second-place in the long jump.

"This team is truly an amazing group of competitive people," co-head coach Yogi Teevens said. "We made a lot of sacrifices last year to make this moment happen and it was completely worth it."

Senior Sarah Willette got Idaho out to a strong start on Saturday winning her first Big West Championship in the Javelin. Willette opened with a throw of 149 feet, 3 inches to set a standard for the competition that wouldn't be beaten. Sophomore Cathy Schmidt finished fourth with a toss of 138-10 and Emily Dukes placed sixth with a throw of 127-3.

In the 4x100-meter relay, Tanya Pater, Whyte, Heather Hoeck and Vernee Samuel sped to victory with a time of 45.64 seconds breaking the school record of 45.82 set by the 2001 Big West Championship team. Pater reigned in the field at the start, but it was Samuel at the anchor, who held off the UC Riverside(45.70) team with a lunge at the finish line.

Daniella Pogorzelski raced to a time of 4:33.74 to win the 1,500-meter run. The top four broke away from the pack with one lap left and Pogorzelski was able to hold on for the win.

Whyte bounded to victory in the 100-meter hurdles at 13.11, then less than an hour later won her third championship in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.57.

One hour later, Whyte was back again to compete in the 200-meter dash. Whyte took the lead right away, but Northridge's Aisha Margain evened up with her with about 30-meters to go. Whyte then found that last little bit of energy and pulled back ahead to win her fourth Big West Title of the weekend.

"I was a little tired going into the 200(meters)," said Whyte. "I knew she would come back, so I just wanted to maintain and finish the race."

"For being the amazing individual athlete that she is, she also is an incredible team player. We will miss Angela for along time," Teevens said.

The women added their final Big West Title from Sophomore Tammy Stowe in the triple jump. Stowe entered the weekend ranked fourth with a lifetime best of 40-1?˝ set a week ago at the McDonald's Outdoor.

On her first jump, Stowe set a new personal record of 40-5?˝, but that mark would not last long. After scratching on her second attempt, she regrouped and bounded to 40-7. Even with all the improvement Stowe still sat in second behind 2002 Big West Champion Dee Scott from Cal State Northridge, who was leading with a mark of 41-4?˝. On Stowe's final attempt she broke her personal record on more time leaping 41-6?˝ to win the Big West Title.

"Stowe has a big heart," Teevens said. "Just when you think she is out of gas she sets a new personal record by over a foot and beats last years conference champion."

After four days of competing the Vandals took their victory lap as the 2003 Big West Champions.

"Some of these kids came in ranked fourth or fifth and stepped up to perform like they never have before," said Teevens. " I'm really proud to call this team, my team."