EUGENE, Ore. – University of Hawai‘i’s Amber Kaufman became the school’s first track and field national champion in 26 years after winning the high jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Wednesday at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field, states a UH press release.
Kaufman, a multisport star who was also an All-American in volleyball, cleared 6-1.25 feet (1.86m) and beat out Arizona’s Elizabeth Patterson. Patterson, who defeated Kaufman at the NCAA Indoor meet in March, cleared 6-0 (1.83m).
“I feel amazing, this is something I’ve dreamt about and the one thing I’ve wanted as an athlete,” Kaufman said. “I couldn’t be more excited. After the field was cut to four, I felt I had the edge. I didn’t have any misses and the other girls had one or two. I definitely felt loose out there and knew I had the advantage when the bar moved higher.”
The event was delayed for more than a half hour due to heavy rains in the area. Kaufman passed on the opening height and then cleared 5-9.25 (1.76) and 5-10.75 (1.80m) on her first attempts. The field of 24 was whittled to four and among the remaining competitors were Kaufman, Patterson, UC Santa Barbara’s Jane Doolittle and Nebraska’s Epley Bullock.
At 6-0 (1.83m), Kaufman and Patterson cleared on their attempts and Doolittle missed on all three. Bullock missed her first two attempts before passing to the next height, where Kaufman easily flew over the bar at 6-1.25 (1.86m). Bullock was eliminated after her miss and Patterson missed on her first attempt before deciding to pass to the next height of 6-2.75 (1.89m).
With the championship on the line, Patterson missed on her final two attempts giving Kaufman the championship.
“I’m extremely happy for her,” head coach Carymn James said. “She had to be so mentally tough due to the weather conditions and to wait around for so long – her first jump didn’t occur until and hour and 15 minutes into the event. She also had to stay warm and focused through the length of competition. I’m just so happy. She deserved it and I’m so happy for University of Hawai‘i who hasn’t had a national champion in 26 years.”
UH’s last track and field national champion was Gwen Loud, who won the long jump at the 1984 outdoor championships. Loud and Kaufman are the only track and field national champions in school history.
For Kaufman, the gold is her third medal in as many national championships. She captured the silver in March at the indoor championships and took bronze at the 2009 outdoor championships.
Four ‘Bows selected in MLB Draft
University of Hawai‘i juniors Josh Slaats, Greg Garcia, David Freitas and Sam Spangler, were taken in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, according to a release from the UH athletic department.
Slaats was drafted in the fifth round by the Colorado Rockies with the 170th pick overall. The San Ramon, Calif., native was UH’s staff ace for much of the season, going 5-4 with a 3.77 ERA, striking out 75 in 74.0 innings. Slaats had two complete-game shutouts on the season and was named the WAC Pitcher of the Week four times while earning Second Team All-WAC honors.
Garcia was drafted in the seventh round by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 229th pick overall. The El Cajon, Calif., native led the team with a .358 batting average, adding 40 RBIs, 45 runs, three homers, five triples, 13 doubles and five stolen bases. Garcia earned First Team All-WAC honors in 2010 after being named to the Second Team in each of his first two seasons playing at UH.
Freitas was drafted in the 15th round by the Washington Nationals with the 446th pick overall. The Sacramento, Calif., native finished the 2010 season with a .292 batting average, tying for the team lead with 49 RBIs. He also had 10 home runs, nine doubles and 43 runs scored. Freitas was named to both the All-WAC Tournament team and the All-NCAA Tempe Regional team.
Spangler was drafted in the 41st round by the Minnesota Twins with the 1,245th pick overall. The Albequerque, N.M., native was 5-6 with a 4.42 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 73.1 innings pitched. Spangler was drafted in the 20th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates last year.
Yoshikawa makes All-Tourney Team
University of Hawai‘i second baseman, Traci Yoshikawa, was named to the 2010 Women’s College World Series All-Tournament team, announced Tuesday night following the conclusion of the WCWS.
The senior from Honolulu, O‘ahu, helped lead the Rainbow Wahine to their first ever appearance in the WCWS, where she hit .333 (3 for 9). Yoshikawa launched two home runs in the World Series — a game-winning two-run blast that lifted the ‘Bows over Missouri in the WCWS opener and a solo shot against Arizona.
Yoshikawa also hit .333 (8 for 24) in the the NCAA tournament (Regionals, Super Regionals, and World Series) and led UH with four home runs and was second on the squad with seven runs scored and an .833 slugging percentage.
She is the first Rainbow Wahine to ever be selected to the Women’s College World Series All-Tournament team.
