Meet Notes
High jumper
Amber Kaufman is the lone University of Hawai'i athlete competing in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships this week at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field. Kaufman will make her third career appearance at outdoor nationals and fifth overall trip to an NCAA Championship.
Earlier this year, the San Jose, Calif., native placed second at the NCAA Indoor Championships, finishing runner-up to Arizona's Elizabeth Patterson. Last year, Kaufman placed third at the outdoor championships and became the first UH athlete to medal at the meet in 25 years.
The high jump competition is scheduled for Wednesday, June 9 at 4:45 p.m. PT (1:45 p.m. HT). Kaufman enters the meet as the top-ranked high jumper with a seasonal-best mark of 6-3.25 (1.91m). Nebraska's Epley Bullock is ranked second followed by Arizona's Brigetta Barrett, UC Santa Barbara's Jane Doolittle and UA's Patterson.
Kaufman tied for first place at the NCAA West Preliminary Round two weeks ago. Prior to that meet, she had cleared six feet in every competition during both the indoor and outdoor season this year. Her personal best mark is 6-4 (1.93m), set at last year's WAC Outdoor Championship.
Hayward Field was also the site of last year's NCAA West Regionals, which Kaufman became the first UH athlete to win a regional event with a mark of 6-1.5 (1.87m). She also competed at Hayward Field during the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she advanced to the finals and placed 12th (5-10.5/1.79m).
Meet Notes
What: NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships
When: Wednesday, June 9 through Saturday, June 12 (High Jump: June 9 at 4:45 p.m. PT/1:45 p.m. HT)
Where: Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore.
Television: Live web streaming availabe on ncaasports.com each day
UH at the NCAA Championship
For the fifth consecutive year, UH will send at least one athlete to the NCAA Outdoor Championship. Gwen Loud is UH's only women's track and field national champion, winning the long jump in 1984. A school-record five athletes competed at nationals in 1983. UH's track and field program was dropped following the 1985 season and reinstated in 2000.
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