NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - University of Hawai`i sophomore Emily Sheppard set two personal bests to lead the Rainbow Wahine contingent at the Northridge Invitational, Saturday, at Matador Track. The event featured numerous top track and field programs on the West Coast including host Cal State Northridge.

Sheppard tied her PR in the high jump and set a new mark in the long jump. The sophomore finished second in the high jump with a regional qualifying mark of 5-8.75 (1.75m). SMU's Alesha Stegemoller (5-10.75, 1.80m) won the event while UH senior Mallory Gilbert finished in a three-way tie for third at 5-7 (1.70m).

Sheppard broke her previous best in the long jump with a leap of 17-0 (5.18m), and was runner-up to UC Santa Barbara's Ashley Coelho (18-0.5, 5.50m) in the Section B finals. Gilbert jumped 16-11.25 (5.16m) and placed third.

Sophomore Thalia Amanakis just missed out on qualifying for the NCAA Regionals with a personal best time of 1:00.90 to win the 400-meter hurdles. The Sydney, Australia native, eclipsed her previous best, set three days earlier of 1:01.30, and missed the regional qualifying mark by eight-tenths of a second.

Meghan Weaver competed in three throwing events. In addition to Friday's hammer throw competition which she placed seventh at 165-1 (50.31m), the junior took sixth in the shot put (45-4.25, 13.82m) and ninth in the discus (139-11, 42.66m).

Novelle Murray had two top-five finishes, placing fourth in the hammer (176-3, 53.73m) and third in the discus (162-7, 49.55m). Murray qualified for her fourth NCAA Regional in the discus on Wednesday after her performance at the Northridge Spring Break Open.

The Rainbow Wahine return to Honolulu to host the fourth of five all-comers Sunrise Meets, Saturday, March 24, at Cooke Field. The UH Spring Break Open begins at 8:30 a.m. with the field events followed by the track events at 10:00 a.m.

Northridge Invitational Results

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