SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The University of Hawai'i women's track and field team made a big statement in the opening meet of the 2008 outdoor season by setting six NCAA Regional marks at the Hornet Invitational Saturday at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex.

"This was by far the best performance at an outdoor meet we've ever had," said eighth-year head coach Carmyn James. "Last year we qualified seven athletes to regionals but that didn't happened until after the WAC Championship (UH's final meet of the season). We had six today even without Annett (Wichmann), who will qualify this year in both the javelin and high jump."

In addition to the six regional qualifiers, the Rainbow Wahine posted four first place finishes, two meet records, and two school marks.

The two UH records were set by junior Thalia Amanakis in both hurdle events, the 100- and 400-meter. The Sydney, Australia native made regional standard in the 400-meter with a personal-best and meet record 58.52 seconds. She also ran a personal best and came within three one-hundredths of a second from regional standard in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.95 seconds.

So far this season, Amanakis has had a year to remember as she broke five other school records during the indoor season.

Three Rainbow Wahine posted regional standard in the pole vault as UH finished 1-2-4. Jessica Custance won the event with a mark of 12-11.5 (3.95m) while Patricia Gauthier and Samantha Weaver, each cleared 12-7.5 (3.85m). Weaver's height was a new personal-best.

Emily Sheppard set a new meet record with an NCAA regional mark of 5-8.75 (1.75m) to claim first in the high jump. Shot putter Meghan Weaver heaved 48-1.75 (14.67m) to place second and advance to her fourth NCAA Regional in the event.

UH's 4x400-meter relay team comprised of Renee Elbourne, Sam Whitehall, Candace Rosenthal, and Amanakis placed first in a time of 3:50.89.

Wichmann did not compete as she rested after competing in the pentathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championship last weekend. Last season, Wichmann qualified for regionals in both the javelin and high jump as well as qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the heptathlon.

The Hornet Invitational is the first of 10 meets UH will compete in during the outdoor season. UH will host the Spring Break Open next Saturday, March 29 at Cooke Field.

Hornet Invitational Final Results

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