LOS ANGELES – In its first mainland competition of the outdoor season, the University of Hawai'i women's track and field team put together a strong performance at the USC Invitational at Locker Stadium.
 
Altogether the Rainbow Wahine had 18 Big West Conference qualifying performances – six in the 100-meter hurdles, three in the pole vault, two each in the 400-meter hurdles and shot put, and one each in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump – and Amanda Alvarez broke the school record in the triple jump.
 
Alvarez, a junior from Vancouver, Wash., posted PRs in both the long jump and triple jump, placing second in each event. Her long jump mark of 18-9.75 (5.73m) and triple jump mark of 42-2.25 (12.86m) each rank No. 1 in the Big West. In addition to breaking the school record previously held Madara Apine, her mark ranks No. 2 in the West Region and No. 3 nationally based on last week's rankings.
 
Senior Samantha Balentine, of Lodi, Calif., jumped a personal best 5-10.75 (1.80m) to win the high jump competition. Her mark is the top in the Big West, No. 2 in the West Region, and No. 4 nationally.
 
Among the other standout performances include sophomore Alex Porlier Langlois in the shot put, where she took second with a throw of 44-11 (13.69m). Senior Camie Kohashi placed third in the pole vault with a clearance of 12-1.5 (3.70m). Freshman Charlinda Ioane took fourth in the shot put with a throw of 44-8 (13.61m), while sophomore Kaleigh Morrison also placed fourth in the high jump after clearing 5-1.75 (1.57m).
 
Sophomore Zhane Santiago took fifth in both the long jump, with a personal best 18-2.25 (5.54m) and 100-meter hurdles (14.45 seconds). In addition, junior Joanna Franke-Kuhn's throw in the hammer placed seventh but ranks No. 1 in the Big West.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will continue their road trip with the Stanford Invitational next weekend.