Final Results
Day 4 Results
RUSTON, La. – The University of Hawai'i women's track and field team captured five medals, including two golds by
Amber Kaufman and
TeRina Keenan, on the final day of the 2010 Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships, Saturday at Louisiana Tech's Jim Mize Track and Field Complex.
For the second consecutive year, the Rainbow Wahine placed fifth overall with 74.5 points. Louisiana Tech captured its sixth consecutive WAC title, edging Day 3 leader Idaho, 194-175.5.
Keenan threw a huge personal best in the discus to win her first WAC medal. The Auckland, New Zealand native heaved 176-4 (53.76m) on her second attempt after another monster throw of 175-7 (53.53m) on her first throw. Keenan entered this week's competition ranked No. 25 nationally but her mark moves her into the Top 10.
“It feels great,” Keenan said. “It feels even better because I had a personal best and I've tried for a long time to throw this far. Last year I didn't do as well and I was seeded first.”
Kaufman defended her high jump title for the third consecutive year clearing 6-0 (1.83m). It is Kaufman's fifth career WAC gold medal and second this year along with an indoor gold in February. Teammate
Sarah Saddleton won her third career silver medal matching her PR with a mark of 5-10.75 (1.80m), which puts her in the Top 20 nationally. Freshman
Samantha Balentine tied for fourth after clearing 5-5 (1.65m).
“It feels pretty good,” Kaufman said. “I haven't jumped in a while so I was just trying to get back into the swing of things so I'm not really happy with my jump. But I can't be mad about the points I got for my team. Sarah (Saddleton) did great and she hadn't been jumping that high. She went huge today, so that's what I'm happy about.”
Senior
Thalia Amanakis captured silver in the 400-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 59.67 while also finishing fifth in the 100-hurdles (13.98). Sophomore
Emma MacCorquodale won a bronze medal in the hammer throw with a 177-8 (54.16m).
Other UH athletes scoring team points were
Careena Onosai, who placed sixth in the discus with a heave of 151-5 (46.15m), and
Madara Apine, a bronze medalist in the triple jump at WAC Indoors, who placed eighth with a jump of 38-0.75 (11.60m).
The Rainbow Wahine also finished fifth at the WAC Indoor Championships in February. UH will next await word on which athletes qualify for the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds later this month in Austin, Texas.
-UH-
