Track and Field Prepares for NCAA Championships
June 2, 1998
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Washington's largest NCAA contingent in eight years begins competition Wednesday when the four-day track & field national championship meet commences at the University of Buffalo.
Eleven athletes represent the Huskies, including Pacific-10 Conference champions Anna Aoki, Aretha Hill and Ja'Warren Hooker.
Four of Washington's five women qualifiers compete Wednesday led by Hill, the national discus leader. A product of Renton High School, Hill boasts the best throw of the collegiate campaign with a mark of 215-feet, 3-inches. She is a three-time All-American who finished fourth at the NCAAs last year, third in 1996 and seventh in 1995.
Junior Keisha Griffis makes her second straight 400-meter hurdle appearance at nationals. She was eliminated in the semifinals last year, but enters the 1998 meet ranked 10th with a best time of 57.59.
Two Huskies take part in the women's 10,000-meter race. Aoki, fresh off a surprising first-place Pac-10 performance, is the 10th-rated competitor with a time of 34:56.62. She is joined by junior Deeja Youngquist, a product of Enumclaw High School who se time of 35:00.26 ranks No. 13.
Five of Washington's six men's qualifiers begin competition on Thursday.
