AZUSA, Calif. (Apr. 19) -- Seattle Pacific University's Stephanie Huffman got off to a strong start toward qualifying for the NCAA Division II Track 7 Field Championships on the first day of the California Invitational heptathlon Thursday at Azusa Pacific University.

Huffman (Jr., Brush Prairie, Wa./Prairie), competing in a heptathlon for the first time since finishing second at the NCAAs in 1999, totaled 2855 and was in 16th place out of 32 competitors following the first four events. The meet's final three events--the long jump, javelin and 800-meter run--are Friday.

Okalhoma's Sandy Swabe is the first-day leader with 3239 points, followed by Southern Utah's Kelly Miller (3075). Huffman needs to score 4400 to make the NCAA provisional standard and 5250 to automatically qualify. Her career-best score is 5121. The top Div. II score this season is 5159.

Huffman, whose second day is her strongest, ran a season-best 100 hurdles time of 15.34 seconds and later high-jumped 5-5 3/4 to maek the national provisional qualifying standard in that open event. She threw the shot 32 feet and finished with a time of 26.82 in the 200.

The rest of the SPU team competes Friday night at the Pelluer Invitational in Cheney, Wa.