Going flat. The cross country schedule goes flat this week but Seattle Pacific University's performance figures to be on the rise. The Falcons run their second race of the fall Saturday (Sept. 15) at the Saint Martin's Invitational and the women's team should be much stronger with the debut of some of its top individuals. Among the teams expected to join SPU at the meet are Central Washington, Western Washington and host Saint Martin's. The women will run 5000 meters and the men 8000 on a relatively level course.

Bjork, Hawkinson likely to run. Coach Doris Heritage opted to hold out several of her top women and some men at last week's Emerald City Invitational, but she's likely to have at least three more harriers available this weekend. Among those expected to make their debut are Ruth Hawkinson (Jr., Roy, Wa./Yelm), Kirsten Bjork (So., Olympia, Wa./Black Hills) and the men's top recruit, Tim LeCount (Fr., Battle Ground, Wa.). Hawkinson was the No. 5 scorer a year ago and made the all-conference track team in the 5000 meters. Bjork was the team's No. 6 scorer last season and all-conference in the 10,000 during the spring track campaign. LeCount finished fifth in the state 4A championships as a senior. Tim Marston (So., Pullman, Wa./Logos), the team's No. 5 scorer in 2000, is also set to go. It remains uncertain whether Rachel Ross (Sr., Kennewick, Wa.) or Jamie Witt (So., Folsom, Ca.) will race. Ross, bothered by a foot injury, is a two-time conference champion and past All-America while Witt, returning from a back injury which sidelined her most of the spring, was the No. 2 scorer as a freshman. Ross won last year's Saint Martin's Invitational, one of four victories in 2000.

Yet another matchup. While Central Washington was picked to nudge SPU for first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's championships this season, it was actually Western Washington which was the top finisher last week, finishing fourth. Central, also missing several key people, took fifth place and Seattle Pacific sixth. Seattle University and Saint Martin's were seventh and eighth, respectively. In all, the Wildcats and Falcons will face one another seven times in seven meets before the NCAA Division II West Regional Nov. 3. Western was also the top GNAC team in the men's team standings at Emerald City, finishing runners-up to Washington, 15-103. Seattle Pacific was sixth behind Puget Sound, Central and Seattle U.

Back in front. Just as he did a year ago, Nathanael Castle (Jr., Gooding, Id.) was the Falcons' top runner out of the gate. Castle finished 11th at Emerald City, covering the 8k in 26 minutes, 45 seconds. He was third among GNAC harriers, behind two Vikings. Castle won the first race of 2000 only to suffer a season-ending knee injury in training the following week. He was second in the conference 1500 last spring. Dana Cantrell (Sr., Bellingham, Wa./Sehome) was the top scorer for the women, taking 28th in a 5k time of 20:00.

Trail mix. Nicole Seana (So., Carnation, Wa./Kamiakin) returned to the cross country trails last week after missing last season because of a knee injury. She was second in the conference as a freshman in 1999. Last week she ran 51st in 21:03...Two freshmen finished among the top three SPU scorers. Kara Richard (Fr., Elma, NY/Iroquois Central) was 41st and Josie Lavin (Fr., Bremerton, Wa.) 42nd. Both were timed in 20:28.

Last week's results.

Women's Team Scores 1-Washington, 17; 2-Northwest College, 61; 3-Puget Sound, 142; 4-Western Washington, 148; 5-Central Washington, 167; 6-Seattle Pacific, 198; 7-Seattle U., 263; 8-St. Martin's, 274.
Individual Results 1- Sabrina Monro,UW, 17:17; 2-Kate Bradshaw, UW, 17:38; 3-Lisa Gibbs, UW, 17:39; 4-Jamie Gibbs, UW, 18:15; 5-Dana Boyle, UPS, 18:16; 6-Ashlee Vincent, WWU, 18:37; 7-Karen Steen, CNW, 18:39.64; 8-Kate Spigel, UW, 18:45; 9-Laura Halverson, UW, 18:45; 10-Kim Stone, NWC, 18:49.
Also: 28-Dana Cantrell, SPU, 20:00; 41-Kara Richard, SPU, 20:28; 42-Josie Lavin, SPU, 20:28; 48-Candy Owens, SPU, 20:58; 51-Nicole Seana, SPU, 21:03; 54-Leah Paddock, SPU, 21:09; 90-Acadia Giffy-Broghangh,SPU, 24:26; 92-Breanne Rohm, SPU, 25:05.

Men's Team Scores 1-Washington, 15; 2-Western Washington, 103; 3-Puget Sound, 108; 4-Central Washington, 137; 5-Seattle U., 147; 6-Seattle Pacific, 217; 7-St. Martin's, 224; 8-Everett Community College, 347.
Individual Results 1-Dustin Duke, UW, 25:44; 2-Mike Hill, UW, 25:57; 3-Jeremy Park, UW, 26:06; 4-Ben Koss, UW, 26:11; 5-Todd Arnold, UW, 26:12; 6-Michael Kiter, unat., 26:21; 7-Bob Donker, unat., 26:25; 8-Zack Boteilho, WWU, 26:31; 9-Martin Ranney, WWU, 26:32; 10-Eric Garner, UW, 26:39.
Also: 11-Nathanael Castle, SPU, 26:45; 43-Neal Fryett, SPU, 28:35; 51-Nick Glancy, SPU, 28:50; 59-Zach Grice, SPU, 29:04; 65-Scott VanHess, SPU, 29:49; 67-Aaron Libadisos, SPU, 29:52; 72-Paul Mach, SPU, 30:29; 93-Alex Bartholomew, SPU, 32:56; 97-Clint Bjella, SPU, 33:58.