HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's cross country team will make its first postseason appearance as a team beyond the conference championships since the 2010 season, beginning competition on Friday, Nov. 13, at the NCAA West Regional Championship, held at the Jefferson Park Golf Course in Seattle, Wash.
 
Hosted by the University of Washington, the women's 6k race begins at 12:00 p.m. PT and will include a field of 37 teams. The top two teams from the regional qualify to join the field of 18 automatic berths to the NCAA Championships, held Nov. 21 in Louisville, Ky. Additionally, 13 more teams from the nine regions will be selected as at-large teams. In addition, 38 more individual entrants are selected to compete at the national meet, including the top four Regional individuals not on qualifying teams, if they finish in the top 25. Thirteen teams and two individuals will be chosen by an NCAA subcommittee on Saturday for at-large selections.

The Rainbow Wahine will make their second appearance at the West Regionals since 2010. Last season, then-freshman Montana Martinez placed 175th overall in a time of 23:14.7 to lead a UH squad of four competitors. Tiare' Nakashima completed the 6k race in 24:20.7 for 215th place, followed by Alexa Foster (24:56.3/225th) and Hayley Musashi (27:31.3/230th). UH did not compete in the team scoring with the four-woman squad running as individuals.
 
Now a sophomore, Martinez has come on strong down the stretch to lead the Rainbow Wahine into the 2015 Regional, pacing UH at the Big West Championships on a 22nd place 6k finish in 21:36.72. The competition for top spots has greatly improved the Rainbow Wahine this season, with every member reaching a career best just prior to the conference meet. Freshman Camille Campos and junior Alli Cross have both led the team in meets this year, while freshman Sabrina Sterbis has finished her rookie campaign strong, ranking third on the team at Big West with a time of 22:22.42 for a 43rd place overall. Junior Caitlyn Foss, freshman Haley Beaumont and freshman Tristan Setzer will round out the team heading to Seattle.

"I am extremely pleased with the progress our cross country team demonstrated at the Big West Championship," head track & field and cross country coach Carmyn James said. "Moving up two places after finishing ninth at the three previous championships was a significant step upward, especially for a team consisting of mostly freshmen."

"The only thing that can make this season even better is if each team member can run a personal best at the NCAA West Regional race," James added. "Although the course may be different, the conditions will be cooler and everyone's level of motivation is super high."

 Meet #9
What: NCAA West Regional Championship
Date:  Friday, Nov, 13
Time: 12:00 p.m. PT
Where: Jefferson Park Golf Course; Seattle, Wash.
Live Stats and Entries: http://www.rtspt.com/events/ncaa/d1westxc15/
 
UH Participants: Haley Beaumont, Camille Campos, Alli Cross, Caitlyn Foss, Montana Martinez, Tristan Setzer, Sabrina Sterbis
 
UH at the NCAA West Regional Championships: The Rainbow Wahine have competed as a team in the NCAA West Regionals 21 times since 1981. UH's best team finish was ninth in 2002, held at the Stanford Golf Course. That same season, Victoria Chang placed 12th individually. UH's top individual performance at the NCAA West Regional was Cheryl Smith's eighth place finish in 2001.