ISLE FILE
Hawaii heptathletes start strong
Advertiser Staff
University of Hawai'i heptathletes Annett Wichmann and Emily Sheppard got off to fast starts at their respective meets yesterday at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif.
Wichmann sits in third place at the Mt. Sac Relays Multi-Events meet with 3,161 points while Sheppard is second at the California Invitational Multi-Events with a personal-best, first-day total of 3,005 points.
Wichmann, who won the shot put with 44 feet, 4 inches, trails Emily Pearson (3,168) and Sharon Day (3,523) in the 17-athlete field after four disciplines. Pearson is competing unattached while Day is representing Asics.
Sheppard, who won the high jump with 5 feet, 7 inches, trails UC Santa Barbara's Barbara Nwaba by 195 points in the 38-athlete field.
Both competitions conclude today. Wichmann needs 1,844 points in the final three events for the NCAA provisional mark and a chance for her fourth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance.
SURFING
ISLE SURFERS ADVANCE
Hawai'i surfers Kekoa Bacalso and Fred Patacchia Jr. advanced to the quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro men's contest yesterday.
The second and third rounds were completed in 4- to 6-foot waves at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia.
Patacchia had the best heat of the third round, recording a two-wave score of 17.57, including a near-perfect wave of 9.4. He defeated Australian Dean Morrison, 17.57-13.64.
Bacalso had the second-best heat of the third round, receiving a two-wave score of 17.34. He defeated Australia's Drew Courtney, 17.34-11.17.
Fellow Hawai'i surfers Dustin Barca and Roy Powers were eliminated earlier in the week.
The contest is the second stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour.
