Final Results

EUGENE, Ore. – The University of Hawai'i women's track and field team completed its best ever finish at the NCAA West Regional Championships at Oregon's Hayward Field led by Amber Kaufman and Annett Wichmann, both of whom earned automatic qualification to the national championships in their respective events.

 

The Rainbow Wahine tied for 11^th place overall with 19 points which was best among Western Athletic Conference schools. UH's previous best point total and finish was in 2007, also held in Eugene, Ore., with 10 points and 17^th place.

 

On Saturday, Kaufman won the high jump competition after clearing 6-1½ (1.87m). That mark tied the West Regionals record set by Cal Poly's Sharon Day last year and by placing in the top five, earned an automatic spot to the NCAA Championships in two weeks. In addition, Kaufman is the first Rainbow Wahine in school history to win an event at the West Regionals.

 

The two-time reining WAC champion easily cleared her opening height of 5-7 (1.70m) on her first attempt. She cleared her next five heights on her first attempts until stumbling at 6-2¾ (1.90m). Kaufman will compete in her second straight NCAA Championships in two weeks in Fayetteville, Ark. Last season she placed fifth.

“I would of liked to jump higher, but it is what it is," Kaufman said. "The weather didn't affect me at all, it's just like at home. This is a fun meet; it brings new pressure and competitions that are always fun to compete against.”

 

Wichmann placed third in the javelin competition with a throw of 163-1 (49.70m), which she threw on her second to last attempt. The Jena, Germany native already qualified for her fourth consecutive NCAA Championships in the heptathlon but his is her first time doing so in an individual event. Oregon's Rachel Yurkovich won the event with a throw of 188-8 (57.50m).

 

Seniors Emily Sheppard and Wichmann also competed in the high jump. Sheppard tied for fifth but lost on a jump-off to earn the fifth and final automatic spot to nationals. The Vancouver, British Columbia native, cleared 5-8½ (1.74m) to tie with Arizona's Jasmin Day and California's Inika McPherson. However in the jump-off, Day secured the final spot after clearing 5-10¾ (1.80m) while Sheppard failed to clear the opening height. 

 

Sheppard can still earn an at-large spot to the NCAA Championships by virtue of her performance at the WAC Championship. Ranked 13^th nationally heading into this week's regionals, Sheppard will be placed in the selection pool and will learn her fate next week.

 

Wichmann tied for 10^th in the high jump after clearing 5-7 (1.70m). Competing in her first regionals, freshman Kai Schmidt placed 12^th in the javelin with a throw of 142-10 (43.53m).

 

On Friday, freshman TeRina Keenan placed 14^th while sophomore Careena Onosai was 22^nd in the discus. Keenan threw 155-4 (47.36m) while Onosai heaved 144-4 (44.00m). In addition, senior Jessica Custance completed her collegiate career by competing in her third regional. The Arlington, Texas native passed on her opening height but failed to clear 12-6 (3.81m).

 

The NCAA Championships is June 10-13 at the University of Arkansas' John McDonnell Field.