HONOLULU - The Hawai`i women's track and field team closed out its 2006 Sunset Meet series, Saturday afternoon, at Cooke Field. The Sunset Meet #9 was the team's final tune-up for the Western Athletic Conference Championship, which UH is hosting for the first time May 10-13.

Junior Patricia Gauthier made quite a statement in the pole vault, smashing her previous school mark by nearly six inches, leaping 12-11.75, a new Cooke Field record. That mark would have ranked among the top 30 nationally had it come against collegiate competition. Gauthier is one of two UH athletes to qualify for the NCAA West Regionals later this month.

Sophomore Chantelle Laan notched a new lifetime best in the 3000m at 10:26.06, the fastest mark in the WAC this season.

In the 400m, junior Candace Rosenthal set a new personal best, clocking in at 59.44 seconds. Sophomore Mallory Gilbert tied a seasonal best in the high jump, leaping 5-7.

The WAC Championship opens with the multi-events, Wednesday and Thursday followed by individual and relays events on Friday and Saturday.

Sunset Meet #9 Results

-UH-