Final Results

 

LOGAN, Utah – The University of Hawai'i track and field team completed its best ever finish at the Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships with a school-record 105.5 points and fifth place showing. The Rainbow Wahine concluded the four-day competition on Saturday at Utah State's Ralph Maughan Stadium by adding four more medals including high jumper Amber Kaufman's gold after her record jump.

 

Louisiana Tech captured the women's title for the fifth consecutive year with 150 points followed by Nevada (129.5), Fresno State (119), Utah State (112.5), UH (105.5), New Mexico State (88), Idaho (58) and Boise State (54.5).

 

UH had never finished higher than sixth at this meet and never reached the 100-point mark. The Rainbow Wahine also surpassed their previous best with a total of nine medals, including golds by Annett Wichmann (heptathlon), Kaufman (high jump), and Jessica Custance (pole vault).

 

“We met all of our goals that we set out,” head coach Carmyn James said. “We had the most points ever at this championship, highest finish, most medals won, and 16 of our athletes were named to either the all-WAC first or second teams. I can't be more proud of my team.”

 

Hawai'i swept the medals in the high jump as Kaufman set a new UH and venue record with a jump of 6-4 (1.93m). That height is the top outdoor mark in the U.S. this season. Kaufman, who earlier won the gold at the WAC Indoor Championship, will earn her second consecutive trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where she placed fifth last season.

 

Teammates Emily Sheppard and Wichmann won silver and bronze, respectively. Sheppard cleared 5-11.25 (1.81m) to take second place and earn her eighth career high jump medal at a WAC meet. With an unexpected bronze in the triple jump (39-8.75/12.11m) earlier in the day, Sheppard concluded her career with a total of 11 WAC medals, including three over the past four days.

 

Wichmann captured her third medal of this meet after clearing 5-10 (1.78m) to become UH's ninth NCAA Regional qualifier this season, tying a school record. During her illustrious career, Wichmann captured 13 career medals. Earlier in the day, the Jena, Germany native placed fifth in the triple jump (38-10.25/11.84m) to earn four team points.

 

“I have tears in my eyes,” James said after UH's sweep in the high jump. “Amber was amazing, she was flying over the bar and almost cleared 1.96 but she clipped the bar on her way down. I can't say enough of the performances by Emily and Annett. Both of them gave it all they had this week. Not only did they finish the heptathlon but they came back and competed in the individual events.”

 

Wichmann and Kaufman shared co-Field Athletes of the Meet honors, the second time this season Wichmann received the award after sharing it at the WAC Indoor Championships. Wichmann also took home the High Point Award after totaling 32 points in five events.

 

In the 800-meter run finals, Sam Whitehall just missed bronze with a fourth place finish and personal best time of 2:14.86. Mariana Monasi placed eighth, crossing the finish line in 2:29.62. The Rainbow Wahine picked up seven team points in the discus as freshman TeRina Keenan placed fourth with a throw of 152-5 (46.45m) and sophomore Careena Onosai took seventh at 149-0 (45.43m). UH started the day with a sixth place finish by freshman Emma MacCorquodale in the hammer throw (171-0/52.13m).

 

The Rainbow Wahine will next compete in the NCAA West Regionals, May 29-30, in Eugene, Ore.