ISLE FILE
UH's Chang gains track regional
Advertiser Staff
Despite running in the dark and in temperatures in the low 50s, University of Hawai'i track and field runner Victoria Chang qualified for the newly developed NCAA Regional Championships after finishing second in the 5,000-meter run yesterday in the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational in Pomona, Calif.
Her time was 16:45.15, about 15 seconds better than the standard qualifying time of 17 minutes.
Chang, who had to run in the dark because the Pomona track has no lights, joins teammates Olivia Smoody (high jump, 1.70 meters, UCLA Invitational) and Novelle Murray (discuss, 47.05 meters, Rainbow Invitational) as qualifiers for the regionals, taking place at Stanford in May. Finishers in the top five at the regionals have automatic spots in the NCAA Championships.
"To make the standard it takes the pressure off the athletes," said track and field coach Carmyn James.
"It allows for them to compete in a less stressful situation and actually makes them compete better."
Junior Robin McRobbie set a UH school record in the steeple chase with a time of 11:10.59.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Hawai'i Pacific loses two: Cal State Dominguez Hills swept a doubleheader from Hawai'i Pacific. 6-5 and 4-0, yesterday in Carson, Calif.
In the first game, the Toros scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run triple by Mike Milstead, to take a 6-3 lead.
HPU rallied with two runs in the sixth, but fell short.
In the second game, the Sea Warriors matched the Toros in hits (seven), led by Alika Kuraoka and Brandon Sato, who both batted 2-for-3, but were shut out by Brian Cortes, who struck out six.
David Zamarano went the distance for HPU, with one walk and three strikeouts.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
HPU splits with Azusa Pacific: A fielding error in the bottom of the seventh inning led to two runs as Hawai'i Pacific rallied to beat Azusa Pacific, 5-4, in the second game of a doubleheader to earn a split of non-conference games yesterday at the Hawai'i Pacific softball field.
The Sea Warriors lost the first game, 5-4, after allowing four runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Hawai'i Pacific is 26-20. Azusa Pacific is 38-16.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Maui stays unbeaten: Pitcher Joseph Kala hit a one-out, RBI double in the top of the fifth inning that proved to be the winning run as Maui High edged King Kekaulike yesterday at Iron Maehara Stadium to remain unbeaten in the Maui Interscholastic League.
Kala allowed two runs on two hits as the Sabers improved to 12-0.
Baldwin blanks Moloka'i: Shevis Shima hit an inside-the-park three-run home run to spark an eight-run fifth inning as Baldwin defeated Moloka'i, 10-0, in a MIL game at Iron Maehara Stadium.
Baldwin improved to 11-0 as the game was called after five innings because of the league's mercy rule.
SWIMMING
Tulane bound: Leslie Christian of Leilehua High and the Kamehameha Swim Club signed yesterday with Tulane University to swim distance freestyle races.
Christian, an Army dependent stationed here since last summer, is this year's state 17-18 years short-course champion in the 200-, 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle events.
