AZUSA, Calif. - University of Hawai`i track and field athlete Annett Wichmann qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the heptathlon after an automatic score of 5,521 points Thursday at the Mt. SAC Multi-Events. Teammate Emily Sheppard finished her first career heptathlon with an 18th place finish at the California Invitational Multi-Events also completed on Thursday at the Hilmer Lodge Stadium.

Wichmann will be competing in her third NCAA Outdoor Championship in June at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. Last season, the Jena, Germany native placed ninth after a 17th place showing in 2006. In addition to the outdoor championships, she has competed in two indoor nationals.

Wichmann was the highest collegiate finisher, and placed fourth overall, at the Mt. SAC Multis and set two school event records in the long jump (18-10.5/5.75m) and 800-meter run (2:18.80). She also posted an NCAA Regional qualifying mark in the javelin with a throw of 143-9 (43.81m).

As a team, the Rainbow Wahine have equaled their 2007 total for regional qualifiers of seven. In addition, with Wichmann's automatic qualification to nationals, a UH athletes will compete in the event for the third straight year and fourth time in head coach Carmyn James' eight-year tenure.

Sheppard stood in seventh place after day of the California Invitational Multis but dropped 11 places in the final standings. In the final three disciplines, Sheppard placed sixth in the long jump (18-6/5.64m), 32nd in the javelin (65-3/19.89m), and 28th in the 800-meter run (2:39.61).

In completing her first career heptathlon, Sheppard set personal bests in six of the seven disciplines.

The rest of the Rainbow Wahine will next participate in the Azusa Pacific Invitational and the first day of the Mt. SAC Relays on Friday.

Mt. SAC & California Invitational Multi-Events Live Results

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