The University of Hawai'i women's track and field team, seeking its first Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, will take a 12.5-point lead into day's final round of competition in Nampa, Idaho.

Buoyed by a 2-3 finish in the pole vault, the Rainbow Wahine earned 33 points yesterday to increase their two-day total to 53, just a half-point off the school record set last year when they finished sixth in the WAC.

Nevada (40.5) is second, followed by Idaho (39), Utah State (28), Fresno State (26.5), Boise State (23), Louisiana Tech (16) and New Mexico State (8).

Senior Patricia Gauthier won the silver and junior Jessica Custance took the bronze in the pole vault yesterday. They, along with junior teammate Samantha Weaver and Boise State's Annelise Bertleson, cleared 12 feet, 6 3/4 inches. However, Bertleson was awarded the gold based on number of attempts. Weaver finished fourth.

Junior Thalia Amanakis competed in three events, advancing to today's 60-meter hurdles and 800 finals by winning both heats with times of 8.71 seconds and 2:13.72, respectively. However, she was disqualified in the prelims of the 400, an event in which she had the WAC's top time this season.

Also yesterday, senior Mallory Gilbert (18-6) finished sixth and senior Annett Wichmann (18-5 1/4) seventh in the long jump; senior Meghan Weaver (54-01) placed fifth in the weight throw; and senior Chantelle Wilder took sixth in the 5,000 in 18:07.91.