HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i women's outdoor track and field squad sprinted its way through the first meet of the spring this evening at the first of the Sunset Series Meets at Cooke Field. The event featured various athletes from across the island, including 30 students from Mililani Middle School.

Although the meet was a non-scored event, it gave the athletes one last chance to train in a competitive atmosphere before the squad leaves for California this weekend for a two-week road trip.

Juniors Tasha Monroe and Kelsey Smith and freshmen Kelly Young, Jessica Rohr, and Eva Tanner turned in highlights from this evening's meet.

Monroe posted an NCAA automatic qualifying mark in the long jump, as she jumped to an impressive 6.03 meters. Smith also hit an unofficial NCAA mark in the javelin, with a toss of 43.22 meters. Young posted a UH ranking run in the 800m as she flew to finish with a time of 2:12.55. In the 400m hurdles, Rohr also hit a UH ranking run with a finish of 1:04.87.

Two UH school records were posted at the meet tonight. Young surpassed the previous best mark in the 1500-meter Steeplechase, finishing at 5:13.05, setting both the new UH and Cooke Field marks. Tanner relinquished the previous UH record in the pole vault, jumping a heighth of 3.30 meters.

Dana Buchanan, the team leader in the 800m and 1500m runs, took a break this week and ran a personal best in the 3000m run (10:27.97).

On another note, one of the outside competitors, William Ngetich, who used to run for Hawai`i Pacific University, posted a Cooke Field record as he finished the 1500-meter Steeplechase at 4:57.81.

The Rainbow Wahine track squad will be on the mainland for the next two weeks, competing in various meets in California. The next home meet for the squad will be the Sunset Series Meet #2, slated for May 2.