Junior Amber Kaufman won the high jump and senior Annett Wichmann placed third in the javelin yesterday as the University of Hawai'i women's track and field team completed its best finish at the NCAA West Regional Championships at Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

The Rainbow Wahine tied for 11th with 19 points, eclipsing its previous top finish of 17th place with 10 points in 2007. Arizona State topped the 27-team field.

Kaufman cleared 6 feet, 1 1/2 inches to tie the regional record set by Cal Poly's Sharon Day last year and become the first Rainbow Wahine to win an event at the West Regionals.

Kaufman cleared the first six heights on her first attempt before faltering at 6-2 3/4. By placing in the top five, she earned her second consecutive berth to the NCAA Championships, which will be held June 10 to 13 at Arkansas.

Wichmann, who had already qualified for her fourth straight NCAA Championships in the heptathlon, will also compete in the javelin after placing third yesterday with a throw of 163-1. Freshman Kai Schmidt placed 12th with a throw of 142-10.

Earlier, Wichmann tied for 10th in the high jump after clearing 5-7 while senior Emily Sheppard tied for fifth after clearing 5-8 1/2. However, Sheppard lost the fifth and final automatic berth to the nationals in a jump-off. Sheppard, ranked 13th nationally entering the regionals, may still earn an at-large berth.