First outdoor meet...
Sat., Mar. 3, 10 a.m. -- TRACK & FIELD at HUSKY INVITATIONAL, Husky Stadium, Seattle, Wa.

Complete Women's Track Schedule

Complete Men's Track Schedule

And then where?...
That annual rite of late winter, the first outdoor track & field meet, is set for Saturday (Mar. 3) as the Seattle Pacific University men's and women's teams make the short trip across town to the Husky Invitational. It will be the only visit to Husky Stadium as the regularly-scheduled meets later this spring have been moved off-site while renovations are made to the facility and surrounding fields. The Mar. 10 Salzman Invitational is the first scored competition of the year.

Should be good...
Once again the SPU women should be favored to take the Pacific West Conference title, but Coach Jack Hoyt (2nd year) is more intent on restoring the program to top-10 status nationally. In his first season, the Falcons, following a dominant conference meet, were 24th in NCAA Division II. Their most recent visit to the top 10 was fifth place in 1993. Hoyt has five past All-America athletes and six of his NCAA qualifiers from 2000 returning to the fold. His men's squad, which is coming off a fifth-pace finish in the PacWest, features two all-conference performers.

They could finish 1-2...
Seattle Pacific possesses not only a pair of standout multiple-event athletes in Division II but perhaps the top two contenders for the NCAA heptathlon title. Laura Widman (Jr., Colfax, Wa.) finished second in the nation in 2000 with a career-best score of 5377 points. A redshirt last season, Stephanie Huffman (Jr., Brush Prairie, Wa./Prairie) was the silver medalist in 1999. Widman won three events (200, high jump and long jump) and scored in five at the conference level. Huffman, who completed an outstanding volleyball career last fall, is a strong javelin thrower and long-jumper. They are the latest in a long line of national-caliber heptathletes from SPU. Since 1981 there have been 10 women who have earned All-America status in the seven-event competition nationally, and the program has produced four NCAA heptathlon champions.

Da-doo, run-run...
In 2000, the Falcons swept every conference running event from 100-1500 meters, plus both hurdles and relays, and they may repeat that feat again this year. Rachel Ross (Jr., Kennewick, Wa.) won the PacWest cross country, 800 and 1500 titles last year, and she's coming off an excellent indoor performance. Her second-place time of 2:11.19 at the Vandal Indoor Feb. 16 was fourth-best in Div. II. Sarah Kraybill (So., Seattle, Wa./Ballard) not only won the conference 400 crown but anchored the 4 x 400 relay which was ninth nationally. Karen Summers (Sr., Bremerton, Wa./Seattle Christian) ran both in the relay and was seventh in the national final of he 400 hurdles. Hoyt announced that Jennifer Pyeatt (So., Graham, Wa./Bethel), PacWest winner of both the high and intermediate hurdles and eighth in the NCAA 400H, will be a redshirt this spring. Pyeatt has been plagued by a sore back.

The man show...
The men's team will follow the lead of two returning all-conference seniors. Trevor Sharp (Sr., Bala-Cynwyd, Pa./Delaware Christian) ranks No. 5 all-time in the 400 hurdles and was runner-up in the PacWest as a junior while Kelsey Backen (Jr., Yakima, Wa./East Valley) was fifth in the conference cross country race last autumn. Backen and Sharp were both members of the school-record 4 x 400 relay. Nathanael Castle (Jr., Gooding, Id.), whose fall season was abruptly halted by a knee injury, is racing again. Castle ranks No. 4 all-time in the 1500 and was fourth in the conference in 2000.

Just not the same...
In 2001, the most noticeable absence will be that of Dr. Ken Foreman, the SPU head coach for 37 years and an assistant coach last season. Foreman, who retired as the U.S. Track Coaches Association National Coach of the Year, is now boys coach at Konawaena High School in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Joining Hoyt and longtime cross country head coach Doris Heritage (34th year) on the staff this season are former SPU heptathlon and high jump All-America Juli Van Pelt and former University of Washington hurdles mentor Brad Upton.

Indoor in review...
The indoor season consisted of just two February meets with only selected athletes participating. Ross was definitely the bright spot, not only with her 800 last week but her mile time of 5:07.94, good for third place the following morning. For the men, Zeph Shepard (Fr., North Easton, Ma./Oliver Ames) long-jumped a PR of 22-3 last week.

Bona fide Falcons...
In all there are 13 all-conference athletes returning to the women's team. Cyrena Bell (Sr., Kent, Wa./Christian Faith), a fixture of both relays for three years, was runner-up in the 200 and 400 last season. Jawea Harder (Jr., Port Townsend, Wa.) took bronze in the 100 and is a potential NCAA qualifier in the 400 hurdles. Christie Goering (Sr., Boulder, Co./Fairview) was second in both the 1500 and 3000. Among the field events, Natalie Dorow (Sr., Billings, Mt./West) is defending PacWest champ in the triple jump, and with further progress, should qualify for nationals. Morgan Ranta (Jr., Kent, Wa./Kentridge) was runner-up to Widman in the long jump. Abby Harris (Sr., Auburn, Wa./Auburn) and Amy Cowden (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Seattle Christian), along with Widman, gave SPU a sweep of the high jump. Lindsey Stewart, winner of the 100 as a freshman and member of both relays, has opted not to participate this spring. Nicole Seana (So., Carnation, Wa./Kamiakin) missed the cross country campaign with a knee injury but is due back to run the 5000 and 10,000.

Added ingredients...
While Seattle Pacific may have lost some speed in the sprints, it should be stronger in the field events. Ally Studer (Fr., Redmond, Wa./Redmond) is a pole vaulter with excellent potential, as evidenced by her clearance of 11-6 indoors. Dionna Anderson (Jr., Lynnwood, Wa./Edmonds-Woodway) is a 42-foot shot thrower. Lauren Kooy (Fr., George, Wa./Quincy) gives the team a frontline thrower in the discus and a compliment to Widman and Huffman in the shot and javelin. While Heather Wallace graduated, the middle distance corps was replenished with Jamie Witt (Fr., Folsom, Ca.), who was the No. 2 scorer in cross country and coming off a 10:23.10 time in the 3000 indoors. Amber Higgins Farthing (Sr., Burlington, Wa./LaConner), a transfer from Azusa Pacific, was all-conference in cross country and is a candidate for the long relay and 800. For the men, sprinter Blake Witman (Fr., Lynden, Wa./Lynden) provides speed (49.81 in 400) which was lost in the relay with the graduation of Christian Berkey and Steve Costello.

Fractions...
Widman is coming off a mid-winter bout with mononucleosis, and may take a few weeks to regain her stamina and form...Ross won four cross country races in the fall, the most in 10 years by a Falcon. However, SPU's run of four consecutive conference team titles was interrupted by Central Washington...Installation of a FieldTurf surface on the throwing areas east of Husky Stadium have prompted the Huskies and Falcons to move remaining meets off-site. Hoyt is still determining which local track will serve as site of the Foreman Invitational May 12...Summers and Sharp will serve as respective team captains...Widman and Huffman were SPU athletes of the year in 1999 and 2000.

SPU women's track rosters & season best marks...
Yr Hometown (High School) Event/Best '00 Marks (bold indicates PR)
Dionna Anderson Jr Lynnwood, Wa. (Edmonds-W'way) Sp/42-4 1/2
Hailey Armstrong Fr Pocatello, Id. (Pocatello) 5000
Schaylee Baumgertner Jr Quincy, Wa. (Quincy) 1500/5:26.5 3000/11:34.13
Cyrena Bell Sr Kent, Wa. (Christian Faith) 200/25.56 400/57.69
Kirsten Bjork Fr Olympia, Wa. (Black Hills) 1500/ 3000/
Dana Cantrell Jr Bellingham, Wa. (Sehome) 1500 3000
Amy Cowden Sr Seattle, Wa. (Seattle Christian) Hj/5-4 1/4
Natalie Dorow Sr Billings, Mt. (Billings West) Tj/38-7 3/4 Lj/17-11
Amber Farthing Sr LaConner, Wa. (LaConner) 800
Christie Goering Sr Boulder, Co. (Fairview) 800/2:19.78 1500/4:38.56 3000/10:14.1
Jawea Harder Jr Port Townsend, Wa. (Pt. Townsend) 100/12.76 100H/15.38 400H/1:02.53
Abby Harris Sr Auburn, Wa. (Auburn) Hj/5-5
Ruth Hawkinson So Roy, Wa. (Yelm) 3000/11:08.87 5000/18:45.43 10k/39:21.96
Stephanie Huffman Jr Brush Prairie, Wa. (Prairie) 200/26.77 800/2:27.64 100H/15.22 Hj/5-6 Lj/18-5 1/4 Sp/34-9 1/2 Jt/140-3 Hep/5121
Lauren Kooy Fr George, Wa. (Quincy) Dt/138-2 Jt/118-1
Sarah Kraybill So Seattle, Wa. (Ballard) 400/55.80 800/2:15.25
Sarah Lyne So Kelseyville, Ca. (Kelseyville) Pv/8-6
Annie McCabe So Spokane, Wa. (Mead) 1500/5:16.81 3000/11:36.60
Lindsey Northwall Fr Omaha, Ne. (Ralston) 3000 5000
Candy Owens Fr Ridgefield, Ct. (Ridgefield) 3000
Erica Owens So Normandy Park, Wa. (Mt. Rainier) 800/2:30.64 1500/5:12.97
Rachae Probst Jr Spokane, Wa. (Mead) 3000/10:51.17 5000/18:44.19 10k/40:13.6
Jennifer Pyeatt So Graham, Wa. (Bethel) 200/25.92 800/2:25.10 100H/14.20 400H/1:00.56 Hj/4-7 Lj/14-4 3/4 Shot/41-10 1/2 Jav/77-11 Hept/3716
Morgan Ranta Jr Kent, Wa. (Kentridge) LJ/18-8 TJ/35-4
Mackensie Rogers Fr Otis Orchards, Wa. (East Valley) Pv/9-0
Amber Rose Fr Olympia, Wa. (Capital) Lj/16-10 Tj/36-4 1/2
Rachel Ross Jr Kennewick, Wa. (Kennewick) 400/59.84 800/2:11.42 1500/4:36.84
Nicole Seana So Carnation, Wa. (Kamiakin) 3000/10:45.21 5000/17:55.31 10k/36:57.20
Ally Studer Fr Redmond, Wa. (Redmond) Pv/11-6 Karen Summers Sr Bremerton, Wa. (Seattle Christian) 400H/60.94
Laura Widman Jr Colfax, Wa. (Colfax) HJ/5-5 LJ/18-11 3/4 Shot/42-10 3/4 200/25.23 100H/14.93 Jav/129-11 800/2:21.41 Hept/5377
Jamie Witt Fr Folsom, Ca. (Folsom) 3000 5000

SPU men's track rosters & season best marks...
Yr Hometown (High School)
Kelsey Backen Jr Yakima, Wa. (East Valley) 800/1:57.2 1500/4:00.76 5000/15:46.2
Nathanael Castle Jr Gooding, Id. (Gooding) 800/1:56.54 1500/3:56.80
David Denniston So Laguna Hills, Ca. (Laguna Hills) 400/55.1
Neal Fryett Jr Pullman, Wa. (Logos) 800/1:56.18 1500/
Brandon Littlefield Fr Selah, Wa. (Eisenhower) Pv/14-7
Paul Mach Fr Seattle, Wa. (King's) 400/51.1 100H/15.8 400H
Tim Marston Fr Pullman, Wa. (Logos) 1500 5000
Ryan Nash Jr Spokane, Wa. (Mead) 1500/ 5000/15:37.66
Trevor Sharp Sr Bala-Cynwyd, Pa. (Delaware Chrstn) 400H/54.81
Zeph Shepard Fr North Easton, Ma. (Oliver Ames) 200 Lj
Andrew Steiner So Edmonds, Wa. (Sno. Cty. Chrstn) Shot/36-7 1/2 Disc/118-9
Zach Starr Fr Bend, Or. (Bend)
Scott Van Hess So Salem, Or. (McKay) 800/1:59.03
Blake Witman Fr Lynden, Wa. (Lynden) 400/49.81