HONOLULU - The Hawai`i women's track and field team will make its fifth trip to the mainland this week, where they will compete at the prestigious Drake Relays, Apr. 28-30, and Steve Scott Invitational, Apr. 30.
The four-day Drake Relays, held at Drake Stadium, is known as "America's Athletic Classic" and is the premier sporting event in Iowa. The meet begins on Wednesday with the heptathlon followed by a full field of events over the weekend. The 96th running of the Drake Relays will feature more than 8,000 athletes and 65 universities and colleges.
The UC Irvine-hosted Steve Scott Invitational is the school's largest home meet at Anteater Stadium. The one-day event will feature a number of collegiate and international competitors.
Last Time Out...
The Rainbow Wahine sent three athletes to the Triton Invitational last weekend in La Jolla, Calif. Junior Novelle Murray broke two school records, including the 22-year mark in the discus earning her Western Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week honors. Murray threw 54.24m (177-11) which was the fifth farthest throw in the West Region and tops in the WAC. The Surrey, British Columbia, native also broke her own hammer throw record by tossing an NCAA Regional qualifying mark of 55.70m (182-9). She is the team's second multi-event NCAA Regional qualifier joining sophomore Kelly Young. Senior Alexis Fredrick threw personal bests in all three events she entered - shot put (11.64m), discus (40.41m), and hammer (49.90m).
UH to Host All-Comers #8 and Heptathlon
UH will host the eighth meet of the UH All-Comers Series, May 2-3, at Cooke Field. In addition to the open meet, a heptathlon will take place covering both days. Monday's events begins at 6:00 p.m. with a number of running events while Tuesday's competition includes selected field events starting at 4:00 p.m. followed by running events in the evening. For more information, check out the UH athletics website.
Several UH Marks Among National Leaders
The Rainbow Wahine have made their name on the national scene by posting seven marks among the NCAA Division I leaderboard. Junior Novelle Murray's record-breaking toss in the discus at the Triton Invitational last week was the 11th farthest throw (54.24m) in the country. In addition, she holds the No. 53 spot in the hammer throw (55.70m). Sophomore Kelly Young ranks No. 26 and 27 in the 800m (2:07.76) and 400m hurdles (59.84), respectively. Sophomore Patricia Gauthier is tied for the 41st in the pole vault (3.80m), freshman Meghan Weaver is No. 56 in the shot put (14.68m) and junior Tasha Monroe is No. 66 in the long jump (5.99m). All marks eclipsed the NCAA Regional qualifying standard.
Young's Season No Sophomore Slump
Sophomore Kelly Young continued her impressive season by posting an NCAA Regional qualifying time of 59.84 seconds in the 400m hurdles at the Mt. SAC Relays, becoming the first multi-event qualifier for the Rainbow Wahine this season. Young had already qualified for the NCAA West Regional in the 800m at the Occidental College Distance Carnival on Mar. 18, with a mark of 2:09.79, a time which placed her at the top of the Western Athletic Conference leaderboard in the event. As a freshman, Young became the first Rainbow Wahine to score points at the NCAA Regional, finishing sixth and setting a school record in the 800m (2:06.87).
Weaver's Heaves Lead The Way
Newcomer Meghan Weaver has wasted no time making an impression, posting a WAC-leading and NCAA Regional qualifying distance of 14.68m in the shot put, capturing first place at the Mt. SAC Relays, Apr. 17. It was the third time in two weeks that she has posted an NCAA Regional qualifying mark, and also established a new lifetime best for Weaver in the event. Her mark is the 56th longest throw in the country this season.
Quintet Qualifies for NCAA Regionals
This season a total of five Rainbow Wahine have qualified for the NCAA West Regionals, breaking the record of four for most Regional qualifiers under fifth-year head coach Carmyn James. Sophomore Kelly Young and junior Novelle Murray are the only two multi-event qualifiers. Young qualified in the 400m hurdles and 800m run, while Murray threw qualifying marks in the hammer and discus. Sophomore Patricia Gauthier qualified in the pole vault, setting a new school record in the process, at UCLA's Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational while freshman Meghan Weaver made the mark in the shot put and Tasha Monroe qualified in the long jump.
Records are Meant to be Broken
This season, the UH outdoor team has broken 13 school and six Cooke Field records. The most impressive record broken this season was Novelle Murray's discus throw of 54.24m, breaking a 22-year mark set by Joan Gago in 1983. The team broke three relay records at the Northridge Invitational, March 19, including the 4x800m, 4x1600m, and Spring Medley. During the All-Comer series at Cooke Field, junior Tasha Monroe broke two records at the Feb. 5 meet - 300m and 600m - both of which were school records. Sophomore Dana Buchanan broke a school and Cooke Field record in the mile (4:54.75) at the Jan. 22 meet.
WAC Championships in Tulsa
The Western Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships is slated for May 11-14 at Tulsa's Hurricane Soccer & Track Stadium. Junior Novelle Murray is looking to become the first three-time champion in the discus.
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