HONOLULU - The Hawai'i women's track and field team continued to demonstrate tremendous progress in preparation for its first mainland indoor competitions of the season next weekend at the University of Washington. The Canadian trio of sophomores
Dana Buchanan and
Patricia Gauthier and junior
Tasha Monroe sent a ripple through the record pages at Saturday's All-Comers Meet at Cooke Field.
Gauthier started the day off with a new school record in the pole vault, breaking her own record with a jump of 3.50 meters (11'4 3/4") and narrowly missing the stadium record of 3.58 set by UCLA's Chelsea Johnson in 2003. Gauthier then went on to run the 60m sprint in which she won her section and posted a No. 3 ranking on the school's all-time list with 8.09 seconds.
Buchanan, responded with a huge personal improvement in the mile run (4:54.75) to break both the school and stadium records. She was hard pressed by teammate Kelly Young, who only faded to Buchanan's unyielding pressure in the final 200 meters (5:01.29).
Hawai`i's top long jumper and NCAA Regional Qualifier, Monroe, turned her talents loose in the sprints. She ran a 40.85 for 300 meters, which established both new school and stadium records. Monroe, who holds the all-time top ranking for UH in the 60 meter sprint, defended her ranking and was the fastest women of the day. After a shaky start, she fought back to overtake teammate Ku`ulei Karratti, the 2003 Hawai`i State 100 meter champion. Karratti posted a life best of 8.10 while Monroe ran 8.04 seconds.
Throwers Novelle Murray and Meghan Weaver showed solid form with wins in the 20lb weight throw and the shot put, respectively. Murray, a two-time WAC Champion in the discus, just missed her stadium record in the weight throw event.
The Rainbow Wahine will participate in the Washington Invitational, Jan. 29 and Washington Open #2, Jan. 30, both held at the UW campus.
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