SEATTLE (Nov. 15) -- Nathanael Castle may be the sole representative of Seattle Pacific University at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, but he won't be running alone.

Castle (Jr., Gooding, Id.), the first Falcon male to ever qualify for the NCAA meet, plans to pick a familiar team in the field and run with them, says SPU Coach Doris Heritage. Castle and Heritage traveled to Slippery Rock, Pa., Thursday and will preview the 10,000-meter course Friday. The race is Saturday at 11 a.m. PST.

"Nathanael's goal is to make the All-America team and that's certainly possible," said Heritage. Castle finished fifth in the West Regional Nov. 3. "Our strategy is for him to find a familiar pack of runners?one of the teams from our region?and stick with them."

Castle finished no lower than 11th in his seven races this fall. He must place among the top 15 Americans Saturday to qualify for All-America.