Nine University of Hawai'i athletes have qualified to participate in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship's West Preliminary Round next week at the University of Texas. Top qualifiers in Austin advance to the national championship, June 9 to 12 at Eugene, Ore.

The Rainbow Wahine who will compete in Austin are:

• High jumpers Amber Kaufman, Sarah Saddleton and Samantha Balentine. Kaufman ranks first in the West and nationally, with a jump of 6 feet, 3.25 inches this season. She was the silver medalist at the NCAA Indoors in March. Saddleton is ranked ninth in the region after clearing 5-9 at WAC Championships. Balentine, a freshman, is ranked 35th with a jump of 5-8.

• Throwers TeRina Keenan (discus), Karen Guravska and Lauren Cutler (javelin), and Emma MacCorquodale (hammer). Keenan ranks sixth in the West after throwing 176-4 to win a WAC title. Guravska is 34th in javelin at 149-6 and Cutler is 46th, after throwing a personal-best 143-5 at the WAC Championship. MacCorquodale ranks 39th in hammer, at 181-7.

• Thalia Amanakis is ranked 20th in 400-meter hurdles with a time of 59.63.

• Triple jumper Madara Apine is 27th in the West at 41-5.75.

The top 48 from the East and West, in each event, compete next week. The top 12 from each region advance to nationals.