TACOMA, Wa.-Rachel Ross successfully defended her 1500 meter championship and Stephanie Huffman won the javelin, both athletes posting NCAA Division II provisional qualifying marks as Seattle Pacific University finished third on the women's side and tenth in the men's competition at the Salzman Invitational track & field meet Saturday afternoon in Tacoma.

The University of Washington men and women's squads finished in first place at the Salzman. The University of Portland finished runner up on the women's side and Western Washington was second for the men. Ross' (Sr., Kennewick, Wa.) 1500 was clocked in 4:36.85. The middle distance star finished fourth at NCAA nationals in 2001, and has never lost a race on the PLU oval.

Huffman (Sr., Brush Prarie, Wa.) hurled the spear 138'08 for top honors in the javelin. The senior finished just ahead of the University of Washington's Megan Spriestersbach.

Both womens relays finished a step ahead of the pack. The Falcons' 4 x 100 won first in 49.84 and the 4 x 400 relay finished on top in 4:01.43.

SPU got third place finishes from Lindsey Stewart (Jr., Shoreline, Wa.) in the 400 meters, Sarah Kraybill (Jr., Seattle, Wa.) in the 800 and Jawea Harder (Sr., Port Townsend, Wa.) in the 400 hurdles.

On the men's side, Paul Mach won the 400 hurdles in 55.18. Seattle Pacific's combined score was sixth place at 115.

The Falcons compete next at the Long Beach Classic on March 16.