AUSTIN, Texas – University of Hawai'i track and field freshman Lily Lowe nearly reached the dream of heading to nationals in her rookie season, coming up in the upper tier of high jumpers at the NCAA West Preliminary Round, Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
 
Making her first NCAA postseason appearance, Lowe arrived at Manoa from Murray, Ky. and has drawn plenty of notice, and rankings during the 2017 campaign. Although she entered her first career Regional competition at 40th in the West region, Lowe rose to the challenge and tied in the regulation jumps at 5-07.5 (1.74m); matching seven others for 11th place to force a jump-off.
 
As the field competed in 93-degree heat for just under four hours, Lowe finished in a tie for 16th after missing the additional jump-off height. Petra Luteran (Nebraska) and Karla Teran (Arizona) went first and second in the jump-off and continue to the national meet in Eugene, Ore.
 
"As super close as Lily came to qualifying, I am very impressed with her competitiveness and determination," head coach Carmyn James said, "especially following her subpar performance at the Big West Championships. She cleared all of her bars on the first attempt and ended up placing 24 spots higher than she was ranked coming in."
 
"Many Jumpers who were ranked higher than her failed to perform well under the circumstances but Lily rose to the occasion and competed extremely well," James added.
 
Lowe was among only 10 freshmen in the 48-jumper field in Austin, finishing fourth among her classmates in the event.
 
All three Hawai'i athletes who reached the NCAA West Preliminary are set to return next season, as redshirt sophomore Karen Bulger finished 46th in her second consecutive NCAA javelin appearance, while freshman Alexis Brenzil was 22nd in her NCAA javelin debut.