Final Results

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Hawai'i high jumper Amber Kaufman just missed out winning the gold medal at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Friday at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The junior settled for silver after Arizona's Elizabeth Patterson cleared 6-2.75 (1.90m) on her final attempt and won with a clearance of 6-4 (1.93m).

 

Kaufman cleared her first six heights, beginning at 5-8.75 (1.75m), on her first attempts, while Patterson struggled with misses at four of those heights. After Arizona's Brigetta Barrett and Nebraska's Epley Bullock were eliminated at 6-1.25 (1.87m), Patterson and Kaufman were the final two competitors at 6-2.75.

 

Kaufman easily cleared that height but Patterson missed on her first two attempts. With the championship on the line, Patterson cleared the bar on her final attempt and used that momentum to surpass 6-4 on her first try. Kaufman missed on all three attempts giving Patterson the title.

 

For Kaufman, the silver is her second medal in as many national championships. At the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships also in Fayetteville, Ark., the two-sport All-American finished third while Patterson was runner-up to Texas' Destinee Hooker.

 

Entering this week's championships, Kaufman was ranked No. 2 nationally, behind Patterson, and was attempting to become UH's first track and field national champion since 1984. That year, Gwen Loud captured the long jump gold medal at the outdoor championships.

 

As UH's only competitor in the championships, Kaufman earned eight team points for UH. The championships conclude in the indoor season. The Rainbow Wahine begin the outdoor season next week in southern California.