AZUSA, Calif. (Apr. 20) -- Behind the meet's best javelin throw, Seattle Pacific University's Stephanie Huffman surged nine places and finished seventh in the California Invitational heptathlon Friday and likely earned herself two entries into the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships in the process. Meanwhile, the Falcons' Rachel Ross won her seventh and eight middle-distance races of the year at the Pelluer Invitational.

Huffman (Jr., Brush Prairie, Wa./Prairie) finished the two-day, seven-event competition with 4935 points, the fifth-best mark in Div. II this season and well above the provisional qualifying standard of 4400. She threw the spear a career-best 149 feet, 6 inches in Friday's second event. It is the No. 2 mark in the nation this spring.

Missouri's Eli Somerfeldt won the heptathlon with 5223 points and Purdue's Angela Anoliefoh was runner-up with 5107.

Huffman, who was 16th after the first day, began her second day with a season-best long jump of 17-11 1/2. She briefly moved into fourth following the javelin, only to move back down after finishing the 800-meter run in 2 minutes, 36.39 seconds.

The NCAA Championships are next month in Edwardsville, Ill. Huffman finished second in the 1999 NCAA heptathlon and was a redshirt a year ago.

Later Friday, in the Pelluer Invitational at Cheney, Wash., Ross (Jr., Kennewick, Wa.) was dominating in winning both the 800 and 1500. Ross remained unbeaten this season in the metric mile, finishing 5.7 seconds in front of her nearest competitor in 4:36.18. She also won the 800 handily (1.83 second margin) in 2:12.40.

One improved provisional qualifying mark for SPU was turned in by Ross and her teammates on the 4 x 400 relay. They took third in a season-best 3:55.65. Washington won in 3:50.02.

Other winners for Seattle Pacific were Karen Summers (Sr., Bremerton, Wa./Seattle Christian) in the 400 hurdles (1:02.42), Abby Harris (Sr., Auburn, Wa./Auburn) in the high jump (5-5) and Ally Studer (Fr., Redmond, Wa./Redmond) in the pole vault (11-5 1/4). Lauren Kooy (Fr., George, Wa./ Quincy) threw the discus a season-best 1272 to sixth.

For the Falcon men, Neal Fryett (Jr., Pullman, Wa./Logos) had the highest placement, finishing third in the 80 (1:55.1). the 4 x 400 relay ran a season-best time of 3:23.19.

Next week Seattle Pacific competes at the Cougar Invitational in Pullman.

Complete results for men

Complete results for women