Lilian Turban reached some rare air for Hawaii at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas, on Saturday.
Turban, a Rainbow Wahine sophomore from Estonia, cleared 6 feet, 1½ inches (1.87 meters) to take fourth place in the women’s high jump at Mike A Meyers Stadium and Soccer Complex.
By virtue of her high finish at the NCAAs, she became the sixth UH athlete to earn All-America status in track and field, and first since 2010, when Amber Kaufman won the high jump.
UH's others to attain the honor were Gwen Loud (1983), Cheryl Smith (2001), Annett Wichmann (2008, 2009), Emily Shepard (2008), and Kaufman (2008, 2009, 2010).
Turban had a chance to win gold after hitting her mark on her third jump, but Ball State’s Charity Griffith went on to take it by clearing 1.90 meters.
Her previous personal best was 1.85 meters at this year’s Big West championships.
"Lilian is such a rare combination of talent and work ethic, and she always brings her best when the spotlight is on," UH track and field coach Madeleine Carleton said. "She has persevered through many challenges to defeat a lot of really good jumpers and achieve this All-American honor."
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.