HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i track and field squad wrapped competition on Saturday, closing off a successful two-day stretch hosting the biggest local meet since the 2011 WAC Championships – the Rainbow Relays. The Rainbow Wahine finished second with five total teams in competition at UH's Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.
 
The Rainbow Wahine recorded four event victories and  10 marks reaching the Big West Championships qualification standard.
 
"I am pleased with the progress of our team following just the second competition of our outdoor season," head coach Carmyn James said. "The Big West Championship is still seven weeks away and between now and then I am expecting many more team members to qualify. So far, so good!"
 
Sherwood Park, Alberta sophomore Tristan Setzer put the Rainbow Wahine on track early, picking up an 800m personal best of 2:14.47 in the meet's opening running event on Friday.
 
Also producing the early spark for the Rainbow Wahine, Olympia, Wash. sophomore Karen Bulger surpassed teammate Alexis Brenzil for the Big West leader position in the javelin on Friday. Bulger won the event with a mark of 149-5 (45.54m), exceeding Brenzil, who finished third with a distance of 138-5 (42.19m).
 
Harbor City, Calif. senior Montana Martinez delivered the first gold of the meet's second day, battling to a four-second win in the 1,500m run on a time of 4:41.10.


Meanwhile, Murray, Ky. freshman Lily Lowe knocked out the final event win of the day, coming through with the make in a jump-off versus Sacramento State's Elizabeth Venzon, rising above 5-8.75 (1.75m) in the high jump. Recording her first outdoor mark in the event, she opens at third among Big West jumpers, falling just ½ inch shy of the leader spot. She opens at No. 7 on the UH all-time performers list.
 
The throwers produced a pair of silver-medal performances, both for personal bests. Burlingame, Calif. senior Sabrina Mendoza finished second in the shot put with a new career distance of 46-2.75 (14.09m), a mark which places her fourth among BWC shot putters and puts her in the No. 10 spot on the all-time UH performances list. Washougal, Wash. freshman Haleigh Sudbeck made a hammer distance of 167-2 (50.95m) for second, taking over the No. 7 all-time spot for UH and No. 8 in the Big West standings.
 
In addition, freshman Calli-Ann Abbott turned in a trio of solid performances, coming in third in both the 100m hurdles (14.74) and long jump (5.37m), as well as ninth in the 200m (26.42) with two personal bests. Pole vaulter Amanda Bowers also chipped in a BWC-qualifying mark, hitting a career-best 11-11.75 (3.65m) to lead all Hawai'i vaulters and finish third.
 
Coming out of the weekend at home, UH has 11 athletes qualified already for the conference meet with eight members ranked in the conference top 10 for their event.
 
The Rainbow Wahine finished second in the meet with 123 points, coming in behind Sacramento State with a score of 172.
 
Hawai'i heads out to Northern California next weekend with a pair of two-day meets running March 31-April 1, including the San Francisco State Distance Carnival and the Stanford Invitational.