50-plus express interest
in Hawaii AD position

More than 50 people have written to the University of Hawaii inquiring about applying for athletic director, said David McClain, chairman of the selection advisory committee to find a replacement for retiring Hugh Yoshida.

"There's been a considerable expresssion of interest already," said McClain, whose commitee met yesterday.

The applicant pool is expected to be large, as UH has hired an executive search firm, Eastman & Beaudine, to advertise nationally. The finishing touches are being put on the job description and advertising begins next week, McClain said.

The firm and the committee plan to begin screening applicants in early June. UH expects to pick a new athletic director by the end of July.

Ting steady in first round at Jennie K. Invitational

Desiree Ting shot a 74 to take a one-stroke lead after one round of the Jennie K. Wilson Women's Invitational at Mid-Pacific Country Club.

Ting shot 37s on the front and back nines to stay ahead of Kira-Ann Murashige and Stephanie Kono, who fired rounds of 75.

Leah Whiting is another stroke off the pace at 76 and Beverly Kim and Ayumi Hori carded rounds of 77.

2000 champion Bobbi Kokx, who finished second last year behind Michelle Wie, is tied for eighth place with a 79.

Wie, who won last year as an 11-year-old, is playing in the LPGA Tour Asahi Ryokuken in North Augusta, S.C., this week.

Smith takes 10,000 again at WAC championships

Cheryl Smith won the 10,000-meter race for the second consecutive year at the Western Athletic Conference track and field championships in Houston.

The Hawaii senior covered the distance in 36:25.92, well ahead of Tulsa's Charlotte Sanderson (36:40.32).

Casey McGuire-Turcotte was fourth in the 800-meter dash (2:11.22), less than two seconds behind Tulsa's Monica Joannes.

Heading into the final day, Nevada leads the team competition with 44 points. UH is 8th with 11 points.

Hawaii swimmers set national records

Hawaiian swimmers Cappy Sheeley and Regula Steiger set national records yesterday at the USMS Masters National Swim Championships at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

Sheeley swam the 100 butterfly in 1:01.94 in the men's 60-64 category, shattering the old mark of 1.03.09.

Steiger's record was in the 50 breaststroke in the women's 50-54 age group. Her time of 34.10 erased the old mark of 34.45.

There were eight first-place finishes from Hawaii swimmers: Bettyann Barnett-Sallee, Diana Stowell, Steiger, Sheeley, Malcolm Cooper, Steve Borowski and Spencer Eldred. Twenty-one other local swimmers placed in the top 3.

Hawaii Masters also brought home the trophy for men and combined team points. Rocky Mountain Masters edged out the Hawaii women for first place for large teams.