HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i track and field team will compete in its first outdoor meet of the season with the Ben Brown Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton on Friday and Saturday.
 
The Rainbow Wahine are coming off a fourth-place finish in the MPSF indoor championships two weeks ago in Spokane, Wash. Both junior Alyssa Mae Antolin and Lilian Turban picked up their first career championships and will use the momentum riding into the outdoor season. Last season UH shocked the conference with a second-place finish in the outdoor season, setting the tone for the 2023 campaign.
 
The 'Bows return to the Titan Track Complex for the first time since 2021 when they competed in the same invitational. The meet in 2021 was the first in 22 months for the program as UH and the world were coming out of the COVID-19 scare. Antolin captured her first collegiate win in the meet, as she finished first in the 200m.
 
Last year, the opening outdoor meet was in Long Beach, Calif., at the Beach Opener, and it set the tone for the year. Turban made her outdoor debut, finishing at No. 6 in the high jump, while Amy Warrington (400m), Hallee Mohr (discus), and Helen Hoadley (pole vault) all picked up top-10 finishes.
 
The meet will begin with field events, including the javelin throw, where sophomore Jessica Mackenzie could make some noise after moving to throws full-time. The latter part of Friday will showcase the distance runners. Saturday will start at 10 a.m. PT with more field events featuring the triple jump and discus throw. Freshman Tara Wyllie debuted in the indoor season, emerging as a standout in the triple jump. Antolin and others will get their opportunity in the running events, set to begin at noon with the 4 x 100 and wrap up later in the afternoon with the 4 x 400 at 4:25 p.m. HT.