AUSTIN, Texas – University of Hawai'i triple jumper Amanda Alvarez posted a career-best performance on the final day of the NCAA West Preliminary Round Saturday at the University of Texas' Mike A. Myers Stadium.
 
The senior from Vancouver, Wash., placed fifth in the triple jump with a personal best leap of 43-7.75 (13.30m) to easily finish in the top 12, which qualifies her for the NCAA Championships next month in Eugene, Ore.
 
The Big West Conference champion recorded her best mark on her first attempt. She was one of 16 to advance to the final but could not better that mark on three additional jumps. Still her mark of 43-7.75 placed her fifth among the field of 48 competitors. San Diego State's Shanieka Thomas set a stadium record with a jump of 46-2 (14.07m) to win the competition.
 


Alvarez eclipsed her previous best of 42-9.5 (13.04m), which she set at the Stanford Invitational in March. Entering this week's Preliminary Round, that mark ranked seventh in the West Region and 14^th nationally. Her new mark now puts her in the Top 10 nationally.
 
With Alvarez qualifying for nationals, it marks the second consecutive year and seventh time in the last eight years that a Rainbow Wahine will compete for a national title. High jumper Amber Kaufman was the last UH athlete to win an NCAA title in 2010.
 
The triple jump was the second event that Alvarez competed in during the three-day competition. On Thursday, she tied for 24^th in the long jump.
 
The NCAA Championships runs June 5-8 at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field. The women's triple jump competition is scheduled for Friday, June 7 at 3:25 p.m. PT.