EUGENE, Ore. - University of Hawai`i senior thrower Novelle Murray finished second at the NCAA West Regional Track and Field Championship, Saturday, at Oregon's Hayward Field. The senior from Surrey, British Columbia qualified for next month's NCAA Outdoor Championship in Sacramento, Calif., with her top five finish.

Murray was one of nine discus throwers to advance to the finals after an opening throw of 170-4 (51.92m) to finish fifth in her flight. In the finals, she threw 175-6 (53.49m) on her second attempt and bettered that mark with a 176-6 (53.79m) on her third and final throw to vault from third to second. Arizona State's Sarah Stevens won the event with a throw of 182-5 (55.60m).

In the team standings, UH tied with Cal Poly for 17th place with 10 points, which was the most points and team's highest placement at the regionals. More importantly, among Western Athletic Conference teams, the Rainbow Wahine finished only behind Boise State, which accumulated 12 points. Arizona State captured the women's team title with 94 points followed by USC (74) and UCLA (67).

Murray, a three-time WAC discus champion, entered the meet ranked second in Trackwire's Dandy Dozen, which lists the top 12 athletes in each NCAA event. In addition, she had the nation's third best throw heading into this week's regionals. Murray's second place finish marks the highest placement ever for a UH athlete at the regionals and earned the team eight team points.

Competing in her fourth regional, Murray's previous best finish was ninth in 2005, which also occurred in Eugene, Ore.

With Murray's qualification, UH will send two athletes to the NCAA Championship, June 6-9. Junior Annett Wichmann earned an automatic spot after her gold-medal winning performance in the heptathlon at the WAC Championship.

In addition to Murray, sophomore Jessica Trujillo was one of 40 athletes competing in the pole vault. The Arlington, Texas native cleared the opening height of 12-0 (3.66m) but failed on three attempts at the next clearance of 12-6 (3.81m).

The top five individual finishers and top three relay teams earned an automatic entry to the NCAA Championship.

A school-record seven athletes competed for the Rainbow Wahine at the regionals, which was held in Eugene, Ore., for the second time in three years.

NCAA West Regional Live Results

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