Meet Notes

The University of Hawai'i women's cross country team will compete in the highly competitive NCAA West Regional Championships Saturday, Nov. 15. The 6K women's race will begin at 12:00 p.m. PT (10:00 a.m. HT) at the Stanford Golf Course.

The top two teams qualify automatically for the NCAA Championships, along with the top four individuals not on qualifying teams. In addition, teams around the country are competing for 13 at-large berths, which will be awarded based on a season-long points system developed by the NCAA, with priority toward top regional placers. Historically, the West Region has received several at-large bids.

Competing for UH at the NCAA West Regionals are Liisa Cushing, Shannon Dresser, Kirsten Fujitani, Briana Goodnight, Samantha Lotnick, and Tava Tedesco. Among the participants, only Goodnight competed in last year's NCAA West Regionals, which the Rainbow Wahine placed 28th in Eugene, Ore.

Meet #7
What: NCAA West Regional Championships, 6K
Date: Saturday, Nov. 15
Time: 12:00 p.m. PT/10:00 a.m. HT
Where: Stanford Golf Course, Stanford, Calif.

UH at the NCAA West Regionals
The Rainbow Wahine have competed in the NCAA West Regionals 19 times since 1981. UH's best team finish was ninth in 2002, held at the Stanford Golf Course. That same season, Victoria Chang placed 12th individually. UH's top individual performance at the NCAA West Regional was Cheryl Smith's eighth place finish in 2001.

Leader of the Pack
Sophomore Mariana Monasi has proven to be the Rainbow Wahine's top runner this season. The Oceanside, Calif., native recorded team-best times in UH's first five races and has three Top 12 performances (2nd at Chaminade Invitational, 12th at Big Wave Invitational, and 11th at HPU Invitational). Monasi transferred to UH last season after attending the University of San Diego as a freshman.

Recapping the WAC Championships
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Rainbow Wahine finished eighth at the Western Athletic Conference Championship at the 5K New Mexico State Golf Course. UH totaled 231 team points. Seven UH athletes competed with junior Tava Tedesco taking top team honors with a 40th place finish and time of 20:12.10. Sophomore Mariana Monasi placed 46th, checking in at 20:30.50. Freshman Liisa Cushing was the third UH athlete to place in the Top 50 at 20:47.50 for 50th place. Other Rainbow Wahine scoring team points were junior Briana Goodnight (21:50.50/59th) and junior Samantha Lotnick (22:20.70/61st). Competing as individuals were senior Annett Wichmann (22:43.40/63rd) and senior Shannon Dresser (22:44.50/64th). Utah State captured the women's title with 69 team points as four runners placed among the top 11 finishers. Idaho's Allix Lee-Painter took the individual title, crossing the finish line in 18:00.20.

Coaching Staff
Hawai'i head coach Carmyn James is in her ninth season at the helm of the women's cross country and track and field programs. Under her tutelage, two runners qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, including Cheryl Smith's first place finish at the 2001 WAC Championships. Assistant coach Althea Belgrave is in her first year with the program after coming from Florida State, where she served as a graduate assistant.A native of St. John, Barbados, Belgrave competed at Idaho for four seasons. She is a three-time Barbadian national 800-meter and 1500-meter champion.