HONOLULU - Three was the magic number at Saturday's All-Comers Meet at Cooke Field. Three new Cooke Field records and three new school records were established as the Hawai'i women's track and field team prepares for its second indoor competition next week in Seattle, Wash.
The Rainbow Wahine return to the Washington Husky Classic, Feb. 12-13. UH will go up against every Pac-10 school, including Brigham Young and Texas.
Junior Novelle Murray posted impressive first place finishes in the discus, hammer and 20lb. weight toss, setting two new Cooke Field and UH records - Hammer 50.34m /165'11/2" and 20lb Weight 16.78m / 65-0.5. This left freshman Meghan Weaver all alone to win the shot put with an outdoor best ranking toss of 13.18m (43-2.25).
Junior Tasha Monroe also had an outstanding afternoon with wins in the long jump, 150m and 300m. In the 300m, she set a new stadium and school mark, becoming the first woman to run under 40 seconds (39.67).
Other winning performances were garnered by Ku'ulei Karratti (60m) and 2004 NCAA Regional Qualifier, sophomore Kelly Young, who demolished her own stadium and school record (1:33.08) in the 600m.
"I told her to take it out fast but never expected her to take it through the 400m mark at a lifetime best (55 sec.) en route to 600m" UH associate coach Andy McInnis said. "Kelly is really ready to roll and surprise the Pac-10 schools next week in Seattle."
The dynamic duo of Young and Dana Buchanan entertained the crowd with their competitive spirit finishing 1-2, both at the 5:00 barrier in the mile. Freshman Sabrina Reeve continued her progress with an impressive showing in the 5,000m, posting a UH All-Time ranking in her first ever effort in the event.
Top performances in other events came from Patricia Gauthier (pole vault) and a personal-best in the 150m. Other life-time bests and ranking efforts came from Alexis Fredrick (hammer), Sharlene Carillo and Jessica Rohr (600m), Karratti (150m) and Ashley Monfort in both the 300m and 600m.
"I'm finally figuring out the confidence I need to attack races, to run fast and believe I can hang on," Monfort said.
Overall it was a great showing by the Rainbow Wahine, who use these meets to prepare for mainland competition.
"I think these sunset meets show us where we are at," sophomore Sheena Thain said. "They really prepare us for our races on the mainland. We are always tougher in the end."
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