NAMPA, Idaho - The University of Hawai`i women's track and field team sits in first place after the first day of competition at the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championships Thursday at Jackson's Track. The Rainbow Wahine placed three individuals in the top eight, including champion Annett Wichmann and runner-up Mallory Gilbert.

Wichmann defended her pentathlon championship and added to her total of WAC multi-event titles which includes two outdoor heptathlon wins. The senior scored an NCAA provisional mark 3,936 points followed by Gilbert's personal-best 3,739 points, also an NCAA provisional total. Emily Sheppard placed seventh overall and scored two team points for the Rainbow Wahine with a personal-best 3,441 points.

UH leads the team standings with 20 points, two ahead of Idaho, who also placed three finishers in the top eight.

Wichmann dominated the field with top five performances in all five events, including the top mark of the day in the shot put (43-0.5/13.12m). She also tied for second in the high jump (5-7.75/1.72m), finished third in the 800-meter run (2:24.92), fourth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.08) and fifth in the long jump (17-8.75/5.40m).

In addition to her PR point total, Gilbert set new pentathlon event bests in the 60-meter hurdles, 9.27), shot put (35-10/10.92m) and long jump (18-5.75/5.63m), the latter of which was a new school record and top mark of the day. For the year, Gilbert has two NCAA provisional marks including one in the high jump.

Sheppard, who hadn't competed in a multi-event in two years, set three other PRs in addition to her point total - 60-meter hurdles (9.64), shot put (32-1/9.78m), and 800-meter run (2:40.59).

The meet continues on Friday with a full-day of events. The Rainbow Wahine are seeking their highest finish at the WAC Indoor Championships. Their previous best was fifth last season.

WAC Indoor Championships Day 1 Results

-UH-