May 1, 2010

With USC's victories over UCLA in women's rowing and men's and women's track and field on Saturday (May 1), the Trojans have scored enough points to clinch the 2009-10 version of the Crosstown Gauntlet.

It's an unprecedented third consecutive win for USC in the head-to-head all-sports competition with crosstown rival UCLA.

USC now has 65 points in the year-long competition to UCLA's 42.5, with only the outcome of 3 mid-May baseball games remaining in the point total. There also is the possibility that some already-awarded points could be exchanged in post-season meetings in women's water polo and men's tennis. But there is no scenario where UCLA can score enough points to prevent the Gauntlet Trophy from remaining on display in USC's Heritage Hall for a third straight year.

"This is another great day to be a Trojan," said USC athletic director Mike Garrett. "For the third year in a row, I'm proud to proclaim that we are the Crosstown Gauntlet champion. This is a credit to the hard work and talent of all of our coaches and student-athletes in our 19 sports. They are to be congratulated because I know how much this crosstown rivalry competition means to each of them and to our fans."

Before USC's current 3-year run, the winner of the Crosstown Gauntlet Trophy had alternated every year. After USC captured the inaugural trophy in 2001-02, UCLA won it in 2002-03, USC recaptured it in 2003-04, UCLA won it back in 2004-05, USC claimed it in 2005-06 and then UCLA won it in 2006-07.

Points are awarded to the winner of each Trojan-Bruin contest throughout the year and the Gauntlet Trophy is presented to the school with the most points at year's end. A minimum of 57.5 points is required to win the trophy outright.