NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - University of Hawai`i middle distance runners Kelly Young and Dana Buchanan both qualified for Saturday's finals in the first of two days at the 2004 NCAA Western Regional at Matador Track in Northridge, Calif.

Young, a freshman from Lisarow, NSW, Australia, posted her second best time ever in the 800m run (2:07.44) placing fifth overall in the preliminaries and earning a spot in Saturday's finals that get underway at 1:45 p.m. HST.

Young actually qualified for two other events -- the 400m hurdles and 1500m run -- but elected to focus her attention only on the 800m run.

Buchanan, a freshman from Beachburg, Ontario, Canada, set a personal best time and broke teammate Young's record in the 1500m run (4:28.67) placing 11th in the preliminaries and advancing to Saturday's finals at 12:45 p.m. HST.

Buchanan also participated in the 800m run (2:13.27) about two hours after the 1500m run, but failed to qualify for the finals placing 15th overall.

Two other Rainbow Wahine competed today -- Tasha Monroe in the long jump and Novelle Murray in the discus.

Monroe, a junior from Markham, Ontario, Canada, placed 9th in the preliminaries with a leap of 5.78m, and finished 9th in the finals with a jump of 5.84m (19-02.00) in the long jump.

Murray, a sophomore from Surrey, B.C., Canada, was 11th in the discus (48.70 / 159-09). She is the only repeat performer on the squad who participated in the 2003 Western Regional at Stanford, Calif. The two-time Western Athletic Champion improved her performance by 10 meters and 21 positions from a year ago where she placed 32nd with a toss of 38.20m.

The three finalists at the regional are the most-ever under fourth-year head coach Carmyn James. UH sent four athletes last year to Stanford with only one competing in the finals.

Both Young and Buchanan have a chance to advance to the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships June 9-12 in Austin, Texas, if they finish in the Top 5 Saturday in their respective finals.

Hawai`i did not score as a team on the first day, but has an excellent chance to pick up its first-ever points in the regional tomorrow.