This week...
Sat., May 12, 10 a.m. -- TRACK & FIELD hosts KEN FOREMAN INVITATIONAL, Husky Stadium/Sealth Stadium, Seattle, Wa.

Complete Women's Track Schedule

Complete Men's Track Schedule

One final foray...
A conference crown already seized, this final weekend of track & field's regular season is all about national qualifying marks as the Seattle Pacific University teams host the Ken Foreman Invitational Saturday (May 12). For the Falcons, it's an opportunity to add on to or improve their 14 NCAA Division II provisional qualifying marks. The national championships are May 24-26 in Edwardsville, Ill.

Guess who's coming...
The Foreman Invitational, formerly the SPU Invitational, dates back to 1987 and annually attracts most of the top collegian and club athletes from throughout the Northwest. The reasons: strong competition, fair weather and the fact that it's a last-chance qualifying meet for Division II, III and NAIA nationals plus Division I conference meets, such as the Pac-10. Ja'Warren Hooker, Washington's Olympic sprinter, obliterated the Husky 400 record at last year's meet and is among the expected entries. The meet's new name honors Ken Foreman, the legendary and longtime SPU coach who retired from collegiate coaching as the national coach of the year in 2000. Foreman is now coaching a high school team in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

The star of our show...
Seattle Pacific has a star of its own. Rachel Ross (Jr., Kennewick, Wa.) enters the meet unbeaten versus collegiate competition this season in the 800 and 1500 meters, and winner of four straight overall. Ross owns Division II's No. 3 qualifying time in the 1500 and No. 4 in the 800, and easily repeated as Pacific West Conference champion in both races (2:13.24 and 4:35.84) last weekend, with margins of 4.89 and 9.72 seconds, respectively. She also ran the anchor leg of the victorious 4 x 400 relay (3:50.79).

Huffman lets go...
Still, Ross took second billing to a teammate. Stephanie Huffman (Jr., Brush Prairie, Wa./Prairie) earned athlete of the meet honors at the Pacific West Conference Championships by winning two events, finishing second in two others and scoring 36 points to lead the Falcons to their second straight women's team title. Huffman established a personal record and meet record with a javelin throw of 151 feet, 4 inches‹the best mark in the nation. She also won the long jump (17-9) and was runner-up in the high jump (5-3) and 100 hurdles (a PR of 15.00).

Doubling their pleasure...
The contenders for athlete of the meet were all wearing SPU singlets as Huffman and Ross had two teammates who also won two events. Team captain Karen Summers (Sr., Bremerton, Wa./Seattle Christian) and sprinter Cyrena Bell (Sr., Kent, Wa./Christian Faith) were actually part of four wins. Summers won the 100 (PR of 12.36) and 400 hurdles (1:02.04) and finished second in the 200 (25.67) and third in the 100 hurdles (15.00). Bell bolted to first place in both the 200 (No. 5 all-time clocking of 25.19) and 400 (57.79), and they both ran legs of winning relays. The 4 x 100 improved its season-best qualifying time marginally to 47.90.

Lots and lots of winners...
Despite the fact that two Seattle Pacific All-America athletes are out this season due to injuries, the margin of victory widened from 90 to 116 points this year. The Falcons won 12 of the 19 events they entered, and were runner-up in five of those remaining seven. Natalie Dorow (Sr., Billings, Mt./West) was a repeat champion in the triple jump, and went over the provisional standard with a mark of 38-2. Dionna Anderson (Jr., Lynnwood, Wa./Edmonds-Woodway) won the shot put by less than 4 inches at 41- 3 1/4. The men's team got its first-ever conference champion as favorite Paul Mach (Fr., Seattle, Wa./King's) won the 400 hurdles comfortably with a significant PR of 55.10. Head Coach Jack Hoyt (2nd year) was another winner, repeating as coach of the year

All-conference all...
Altogether, 12 women and two men placed in the top three at least once to earn all-conference and 21 women scored points toward the total of 240 points. Silver medallists included Nathanael Castle (Jr., Gooding, Id.) in the 1500 (PR of 3:56.03), Jamie Witt (Fr., Folsom, Ca.) in the in the 5000 (18:31.76), Kirsten Bjork (Fr., Olmypia, Wa./Black Hills) in the 10,000 (PR of 39:49.30), Morgan Ranta (Jr., Kent, Wa./Kentridge) in the long jump (17-7 1/2) and Ally Studer (Fr., Redmond, Wa./Redmond), who raised her school pole vault record and NCAA qualifying mark to 12-2. Those finishing third were Amy Cowden (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Seattle Christian) in the high jump (5-3) and long jump (17-3 1/2), Christie Goering (Sr., Boulder, Co./Fairview) in the 1500 (4:44.14) and Ruth Hawkinson (So., Roy, Wa./Yelm) in the 5000 (18:36.33).

Down to the wire...
In this last opportunity to post qualifying marks, only six of the women's provisional qualifying marks seem certain making the cut for the NCAA Championships. Four more are on the bubble and another four will need improvement to stand any chance. Those who can rest assured with rankings in the top seven are Huffman (javelin and heptathlon), Ross (800 and 1500), Studer and Summers (400 hurdles). The 4 x 400 relay of Bell, Summers, Sarah Kraybill (So., Seattle, Wa./Ballard) and Ross ranks ninth with 10 due to make the cut. Bell is currently tied for the 16th and final 400 berth and will need to run 56.2 or so to rise above the fray. Witt, also needing to make the top 16, is 16th in the 5000 and 18th in the 3000, however those events may face attrition due to athletes choosing not to double. Dorow, at 19th, probably needs a mark of 38-9 while Huffman and Abby Harris (Auburn, Wa./Auburn), tied for 18th, must high-jump 5-6 1/2. The 4 x 100 relay, now 19th, has a target of 47.1.

Fractions...
The men's team finished sixth out of seven PacWest teams with 36 points‹down 15 from 2000. Western Oregon edged Central Washington 171-150 to repeat as champion. The Wolves, with 124 points, were runner-up to the SPU women...Mach and Castle, who was also fifth in the 5000, each accounted for 10 points...Dana Cantrell (Jr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) joined Summers and Huffman with two PRs last week. Cantrell was fourth in the 3000 (10:45.53) and seventh in the 1500 (4:56.65)...This week's meet is split between two locations since renovation of Husky Stadium has made the throwing areas inaccessible.

Foreman Invitational schedule...
Running Events
11:30--5000 Run (w)
11:55--3000 Steeplechase (m)
12:15--400 Relay (w/m)
12:25--1500 Run (w/m)
12:50--100/110 Hurdles (w/m)
1:20--400 Dash (w/m)
1:35--100 Dash (w/m)
1:55--800 Run (w/m)
2:30--400 Hurdles (w/m)
2:50--200 Dash (w/m)
3:10--5000 Run (m)
3:35--3000 Run (w)
3:45--1600 Relay (w/m)
Field Events
Fri./4:00--Hammer (w/m)#
10:00--Shot Put (m/w)*
10:00--Javelin (w/m)*
10:00--Pole vault (w/m)
10:00--Long Jump (m/w)
11:00--High Jump (w/m)
Discus (w/m) follows javelin*
Triple Jump (m/w) follows long jump
#at Pacific Lutheran, Tacoma, Wa.
*at Sealth Stadium, West Seattle

SPU women's track rosters & season best marks...
Women Yr Hometown (High School) Event/Best '01 Marks
Dionna Anderson Jr Lynnwood, Wa. (Edmonds-W'way) Sp/43-2 1/2 Dt/97-9
Hailey Armstrong Fr Pocatello, Id. (Pocatello) 5000/19:45.47 10,000/40:53.86
Schaylee Baumgartner Jr Quincy, Wa. (Quincy) 1500/5:17.6 3000/12:02.86
Cyrena Bell Sr Kent, Wa. (Christian Faith) 100/12.6 200/25.19 400/56.38
Kirsten Bjork Fr Olympia, Wa. (Black Hills) 3000/11:05.14 5000/19:03.5 10,000/39:49.30
Dana Cantrell Jr Bellingham, Wa. (Sehome) 1500/4:56.65 3000/10:45.53
Amy Cowden Sr Seattle, Wa. (Seattle Christian) Hj/5-3 Lj/17-4 1/4
Natalie Dorow Sr Billings, Mt. (Billings West) Tj/38-2 Lj/17-1
Amber Farthing Sr LaConner, Wa. (LaConner) 800/2:20.00
Christie Goering Sr Boulder, Co. (Fairview) 1500/4:44.14 3000/
Jawea Harder Jr Port Townsend, Wa. (Pt. Townsend) 200/26.81 100H/15.43 400H/1:04.5
Abby Harris Sr Auburn, Wa. (Auburn) Hj/5-5 3/4
Ruth Hawkinson So Roy, Wa. (Yelm) 3000/10:50.56 5000/18:28.68 10k/
Stephanie Huffman Jr Brush Prairie, Wa. (Prairie) 200/26.81 800/2:33.33 100H/15.00 Hj/5-1 3/4 Lj/17-11 1/4 Sp/32-3 1/2 Jt/151-4 Hep/4935
Lauren Kooy Fr George, Wa. (Quincy) Dt/127-2 Jt/109-0
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) 1500/4:55.86 3000/11:00.15
Lindsey Northwall Fr Omaha, Ne. (Ralston) 5000/20:00.89
Candy Owens Fr Ridgefield, Ct. (Ridgefield) 1500/5:04.35
Erica Owens So Normandy Park, Wa. (Mt. Rainier) 800/2:28.93 1500/5:08.56
Rachae Probst Jr Spokane, Wa. (Mead) 3000/ 5000/ 10k/
Morgan Ranta Jr Kent, Wa. (Kentridge) Lj/18-3 Tj/36-6 1/4
Mackensie Rogers Fr Otis Orchards, Wa. (East Valley) Pv/8-6 1/4
Amber Rose Fr Olympia, Wa. (Capital) Lj/16-3 3/4 Tj/36-3 1/2
Rachel Ross Jr Kennewick, Wa. (Kennewick) 400/ 800/2:08.05 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) 100/12.61 200/26.10
Ally Studer Fr Redmond, Wa. (Redmond) Pv/12-2
Karen Summers Sr Bremerton, Wa. (Seattle Christian) 200/25.67 100H/15.00 400H/1:01.1
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) 800/1:57.33 1500/3:56.67
Nathanael Castle Jr Gooding, Id. (Gooding) 1500/3:56.03 5000/15:20.69
Travis Danner Fr Eugene, Or. (Elmira) Pv/11-0
David Denniston So Laguna Hills, Ca. (Laguna Hills) 400/55.12
Neal Fryett Jr Pullman, Wa. (Logos) 400/52.4 800/1:55.09 1500/4:11.07
Brandon Littlefield Fr Selah, Wa. (Eisenhower) Pv/13-7 1/4
Paul Mach Fr Seattle, Wa. (King's) 400H/55.10
Tim Marston Fr Pullman, Wa. (Logos) 1500/4:12.9
Ryan Nash Jr Spokane, Wa. (Mead) 1500/4:05.5 5000/16:02.22
Matt Peterson So Lynnwood, Wa. (Sno. Cty. Chrstn) Lj/21-6 3/4
Trevor Sharp Sr Bala-Cynwyd, Pa. (Delaware Chrstn) 400H/56.5
Zeph Shepard Fr North Easton, Ma. (Oliver Ames) Lj/21-5 1/4
Andrew Steiner So Edmonds, Wa. (Sno. Cty. Chrstn) Shot/34-6 1/4 Disc/130-8
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) 100/11.86 400/51.47