FULLERTON, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i track and field squad got competition under way on Friday in the first day of the Big West Track and Field Championships at the Titan Track Complex. The Rainbow Wahine came away with 14 first-day points, while another pair qualified for Saturday finals.

Burlingame, Calif. senior Sabrina Mendoza registered UH's top-ranking performance of the opening day, finishing fifth in the shot put on a career-best distance of 47-05.75 (14.47m). For her efforts, Mendoza moves up to ninth on the UH all-time performances list.

Murray, Ky. freshman Lily Lowe did not quite max out her top height on Friday, but was able to score for the Rainbow Wahine in her first outdoor conference championship. Lowe finished sixth with a height of 5-05.75 (1.67m). She projects to have another shot to perform, later this month among the field at the NCAA West Regional in Austin, Texas.

Another thrower making moves at the conference meet, but on the other end of her career – Washougal, Wash. freshman Haleigh Sudbeck moved up to rank eighth in the hammer throw, tossing a career-best distance of 170-08 (52.01m). She scored the highest freshman performance in the event, making a move into the UH all-time performances, debuting at No. 6.

With an eighth-place preliminary time of 1:03.69 in the 400m hurdles to reach Saturday's event final. Joining her in the finals will be senior Montana Martinez, who logged a ninth-place preliminary time of 4:42.00 in the 1,500m run. In the 800m run, sophomore Tristan Setzer cut close to moving on but did not qualify, coming in 10th at 2:17.20.

Of UH's 14 points, which places them in seventh after the first day and the multi-events, 10 of the Rainbow Wahine's points have been secured by freshmen.

The Rainbow Wahine return to action on Saturday at the Titan Track Complex, kicking off the day at 9:00 a.m. HT with the Javelin throw – a projected large source of Hawai'i points.