EUGENE, Ore. - A handful of University of Hawai`i women's track and field athletes, including three high jumpers, were in action on the first day of the NCAA West Regional Championships, Friday, at Oregon's Hayward Field.

The top five individual finishers and top three relays teams earn automatic entry into the NCAA Outdoor Championship in June.

Junior Annett Wichmann competed in two events on Friday, almost simultaneously. Upon completion of her javelin heat, the Jena, Germany went straight to the high jump apron. Wichmann finished 12th in the javelin with a mark of 143-2 (43.63m) and 14th in the high jump at 5-7.25 (1.71m).

Two other Rainbow Wahine joined Wichmann in the high jump competition, as UH tied UCLA for the most athletes competing in the event. Sophomore Emily Sheppard, the two-time Western Athletic Conference champion, finished seventh at 5-9.25 (1.76m) while senior Mallory Gilbert, the WAC runner-up, cleared 5-7.25 (1.71m) and tied for ninth.

Sheppard just missed out on a jump-off which determined the final two spots for the NCAA Championships. Sheppard fell one miss short of the three-athlete jump-off.

Junior Meghan Weaver competed in the shot put but did not reach the finals out of her heat. The London, Ontario native placed 11th in her heat with a heave of 44-8.75 (13.63m). Sophomore Thalia Amanakis competed in the 400-meter hurdles prelims and clocked in at 1:03.07 to finish fifth in her heat.

The meet concludes on Saturday at Hayward Field. UH athletes Novelle Murray (discus) and Jessica Trujillo (pole vault) will be in action.

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