This week...
Sat., Apr. 7, 10 a.m. -- TRACK & FIELD at VERNACCHIA INVITATIONAL, Civic Stadium, Bellingham, Wa.

Complete Women's Track Schedule

Complete Men's Track Schedule

Score this one...
Personal marks are secondary to placement this week as the Seattle Pacific University track & field teams take part in their final scored meet prior to the Pacific West Conference Championships. The Falcons will join Central Washington, Pacific Lutheran, Puget Sound, Seattle University Simon Fraser and host Western Washington at the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational Saturday (Apr. 7) in Bellingham. Next week the squad is split between the Meet of Champions in Southern California and the local Northwest Relays.

Defending champs...
Seattle Pacific has made significant strides toward sending a sizable contingent of women to the NCAA Division II Championships next month, with nine entries on the provisional qualifier list. However in the upcoming meet, Coach Jack Hoyt (2nd year) will concern himself more with factoring scoring potential into his entries. A year ago with several athletes competing in at least two events, the SPU women won seven events to handily defeat Western 139-96. The men were fifth out of six teams.

Run, Ross & wins...
It may seem like April to the rest of us, but Rachel Ross (Jr., Kennewick, Wa.) is running like it's late May. Continuing her winning ways and rapid progress, Ross emerged unbeaten from three California middle-distance races over the past two weeks. She posted the season's fastest 1500-meter time in Div. II at the Stanford Invitational last week, taking her heat in 4 minutes, 30.71 seconds--a PR of more than 3 seconds and the best time by an SPU runner in nine years. Furthermore, Ross extended her win streak to six races by also winning her 800 heat at Stanford later that same day with a late kick to finish in 2:10.17. It was sufficient to earn her PacWest athlete of the week for the third time in five weeks. The week before, she took the honor by winning the UC Davis Quadrangular in 4:33.69. Ross could face a stiff challenge in the 1500 this week. Central Washington's Alicen Maier was third in the NCAA indoor mile last month but finished 8 seconds behind Ross at Stanford.

Not at Witt's end...
The only other SPU entry for both California meets over spring break was Jamie Witt (Fr., Folsom, Ca.) and, running close to home, she also met with success. Witt chopped more than 14 seconds off her PR in the 5000 at Stanford, running the nation's No. 4 time of 17:29.62. She stands No. 5 in the 3000 (10:06.21) and finished third at Davis in 10:22.48. Like Ross, Witt could find herself facing-off with formidable Central runner; Amy Forrey ran the 3000 in 17:27.37 at Stanford. The Wildcats' Maier owns the nation's top 3000 time (9:57.93).

Down on the Farm...
Hoyt took a half-dozen athletes down to Leland Stanford's old farm for the prestigious meet, which was highlighted by Washington's Ja'Warren hooker bolting to the world's top 200 time this season. In ideal weather conditions, Nathanael Castle (Jr., Gooding, Id.) approached his PR in the 5000 with a time of 15:23.54 while Karen Summers (Sr., Bremerton, Wa./Seattle Christian), apart from having trouble on one hurdle, ran well with a time of 1:03.30. She also ran the 100 hurdles in 15.47. Sarah Kraybill (So., Seattle, Wa./Ballard) had marks of 59.19 in the 400 and 2:16.98 in the 800. Elsewhere, Stephanie Huffman (Jr., Brush Prairie, Wa./Prairie) threw the javelin 133 feet, 2 inches and, in preparation for her first heptathlon of the season later this month, ran the 800 in 2:33.33.

Back in our backyard...
Under more stormy skies at the local Spring Break Open, the Falcons picked up a combined eight wins, including a meet record and PacWest-best long jump of 18-3 by Morgan Ranta (Jr., Kent, Wa./Kentridge). Natalie Dorow (Sr., Billings, Mt./West) won a triple jump for the fifth time in six meets with a season-best mark of 37-6 3/4 and Cyrena Bell (Sr., Kent, Wa./Christian Faith) was a double winner in the 100 (12.6) and 200 (26.29). Other victors were Dionna Anderson (Jr., Lynnwood, Wa./Edmonds-Woodway) in the shot put (40- 7 1/2), and Lauren Kooy (Fr., George, Wa./Quincy) in the javelin (109-0). The men's two relays ran unopposed.

Fractions...
Six members of the women's team spent spring break in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and participated in a local meet hosted by legendary former SPU coach Ken Foreman...Lindsey Stewart (So., Shoreline, Wa./King's) is due for her first racing of the season this week. Stewart, the PacWest 100 champion as a freshman, won both the 100 and 200 at the 2000 Vernacchia meet. She rejoined the squad in mid-March...SPU has the top conference performance marks in 11 of 21 women's championship events. Bell leads in the 200 and 400, Ross in the 800 and 1500, and Summers in the 400 hurdles. The 4 x 400 relay is also No. 1. In the field events, besides Ranta and Dorow, Abby Harris (Sr., Auburn, Wa./Auburn) is the leader in the high jump, Ally Studer (Fr., Redmond, Wa./Redmond) in the pole vault and Huffman in the javelin. Ranking No. 2 are Witt in the 3000 and 5000, the 4 x 100 relay and Huffman in the long jump. For the men, Paul Mach (Fr., Seattle, Wa./King's) is the 400 hurdles leader and Neal Fryett (Jr., Pullman, Wa./Logos) is No. 3 in the 800...Nationally, Ross slipped behind Florencia Hunt of St. Augustine's in the 800 (2:08.21 to 2:08.68). Huffman is No. 2 in the javelin...Mach was runner-up in the 400 hurdles (55.8) at Edmonds and Travis Danner (Fr., Eugene, Or./Elmira) was second in the pole vault (11-0) before it was washed out by a downpour. Studer was second in the women's vault at 11-6 and has cleared at least 10-11 in each of her outdoor meets.

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/41-0 1/4
Hailey Armstrong Fr Pocatello, Id. (Pocatello) 5000/19:45.47 10,000/41:42.9
Schaylee Baumgartner Jr Quincy, Wa. (Quincy) 1500/ 3000/12:02.86
Cyrena Bell Sr Kent, Wa. (Christian Faith) 100/12.6 200/25.95 400/58.05
Kirsten Bjork Fr Olympia, Wa. (Black Hills) 3000/11:05.14 5000/19:08.87 10,000/41:22.9
Dana Cantrell Jr Bellingham, Wa. (Sehome) 1500/ 3000/11:21.41
Amy Cowden Sr Seattle, Wa. (Seattle Christian) Hj/5-1 3/4 Lj/17-4 1/2
Natalie Dorow Sr Billings, Mt. (Billings West) Tj/36/4 3/4 Lj/17-1
Amber Farthing Sr LaConner, Wa. (LaConner) 800/2:20.00
Christie Goering Sr Boulder, Co. (Fairview) 800/ 1500/ 3000/
Jawea Harder Jr Port Townsend, Wa. (Pt. Townsend) 200/26.81 400/60.82 400H/1:04.8
Abby Harris Sr Auburn, Wa. (Auburn) Hj/5-5 3/4
Ruth Hawkinson So Roy, Wa. (Yelm) 3000/11:06.97 5000/18:59.49 10k/
Stephanie Huffman Jr Brush Prairie, Wa. (Prairie) 200/ 800/2:33.33 100H/15.82 Hj/5-1 3/4 Lj/17-6 1/4 Sp/30-8 1/4 Jt/141-6 Hep/
Lauren Kooy Fr George, Wa. (Quincy) Dt/122-0 Jt/109-9
Sarah Kraybill So Seattle, Wa. (Ballard) 400/59.19 800/2:15.81
Sarah Lyne So Kelseyville, Ca. (Kelseyville) Pv/8-0
Annie McCabe So Spokane, Wa. (Mead) 1500/5:19.22 3000/11:06.09
Lindsey Northwall Fr Omaha, Ne. (Ralston) 3000/ 5000/20:00.89
Candy Owens Fr Ridgefield, Ct. (Ridgefield) 3000/
Erica Owens So Normandy Park, Wa. (Mt. Rainier) 800/2:28.93 1500/5:11.8
Rachae Probst Jr Spokane, Wa. (Mead) 3000/ 5000/ 10k/
Morgan Ranta Jr Kent, Wa. (Kentridge) Lj/18-3 Tj/35-8
Mackensie Rogers Fr Otis Orchards, Wa. (East Valley) Pv/8-6 1/4
Amber Rose Fr Olympia, Wa. (Capital) Lj/15-10 1/4 Tj/35-0 1/2
Rachel Ross Jr Kennewick, Wa. (Kennewick) 400/ 800/2:08.68 1500/4:30.71
Nicole Seana So Carnation, Wa. (Kamiakin) 3000/11:02.71 5000/19:50.81 10k/
Lindsey Stewart So Shoreline, Wa. (King's) 100/ 200/
Ally Studer Fr Redmond, Wa. (Redmond) Pv/11-11 3/4
Karen Summers Sr Bremerton, Wa. (Seattle Christian) 100H/15.11 400H/61.1
Jamie Witt Fr Folsom, Ca. (Folsom) 3000/10:06.21 5000/17:29.62

SPU men's track rosters & season best marks...
Yr Hometown (High School)
Kelsey Backen Jr Yakima, Wa. (East Valley) 800/ 1500/4:01.78 5000/
Nathanael Castle Jr Gooding, Id. (Gooding) 800/ 1500/ 5000/15:22.46
Travis Danner Fr Eugene, Or. (Elmira) Pv/11-0
David Denniston So Laguna Hills, Ca. (Laguna Hills) 400/
Neal Fryett Jr Pullman, Wa. (Logos) 400/52.4 800/1:56.89 1500/4:11.07
Brandon Littlefield Fr Selah, Wa. (Eisenhower) Pv/12-11 3/4
Paul Mach Fr Seattle, Wa. (King's) 400/ 100H/ 400H/55.63
Tim Marston Fr Pullman, Wa. (Logos) 1500/ 5000/
Ryan Nash Jr Spokane, Wa. (Mead) 1500/ 5000/16:02.22
Trevor Sharp Sr Bala-Cynwyd, Pa. (Delaware Chrstn) 400H/57.18
Zeph Shepard Fr North Easton, Ma. (Oliver Ames) 200/ Lj/
Erik Skipper Jr Hillsboro, Or. (Glencoe)
Andrew Steiner So Edmonds, Wa. (Sno. Cty. Chrstn) Shot/34-6 1/4 Disc/126-1
Zach Starr Fr Bend, Or. (Bend) 5000/15:51.26
Scott Van Hess So Salem, Or. (McKay) 800/2:02.29
Blake Witman Fr Lynden, Wa. (Lynden) 100/11.86 400/52.17
Brian Yokers Jr Seattle, Wa. (Mt. Rainier)