UH continues revival at Texas Invitational

Advertiser Staff

A race for records and respect resumes this weekend when the University of Hawai'i Wahine track and field team participates in the third meet since its rebirth.

The Wahine will be in the Texas Invitational today and tomorrow in Austin. Distance runners Cheryl Smith, Brittany Keith and Courtney Barlow are in tonight's 5,000-meter race. Casey McGuire-Turcotte could also run if meet directors allow her in the "A Section" of the 1,500 meters.

All other Wahine will run, throw and jump tomorrow.

In the two meets since UH resumed the sport — after an 18-year absence — the Wahine have broke three records and originated two in events not included in women's competition 20 years ago.

Smith, a junior transfer from SUNY-Cortland, now holds UH records in the 5,000 (16:52.03) and 10,000 (34:25.35) meters. She set both two weeks ago, running an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the longer race. Her performance in the 10,000 is the best in the Western Athletic Conference this year, while her 5,000 time is third-best.

Sarah McDiarmid, a senior transfer from Canada, set the school high jump record at her first meet, clearing the bar at 1.73 meters (5 feet 8 inches). She has the WAC's second-best jump this season; teammate Olivia Smoody is No. 3 at 1.68 meters.

Nicole Kaffka set the UH triple jump record two weeks ago, leaping 38 feet, 9.75 inches in an event added to the record list. Same is true for freshman pole vaulter Kim Higa and her 10-6 vault.

McGuire-Turcotte is three seconds off the school's 1,500-meter record, set in 1981. Her time of 4:34.62 is fifth in the WAC. In the 3,000, Smith is second in the WAC and McGuire-Turcotte seventh.