BELLINGHAM, Wash. (Apr. 6) -- Rachel Ross ran to victory in a pair of middle-distance races, including the No. 2 1500-meter time in Division II this season, as Seattle Pacific University won its third straight Vernacchia Team Classic women's title in a steady, cold rain at Civic Stadium Saturday.

The Falcons edged host Western Washington 101-99 and Ross was voted the female athlete of the eight-team meet. The Vikings prevailed in the men's scoring (108) with SPU fifth (33), although Nathanael Castle (Sr., Gooding, Id.) captured the 1500 in an NCAA provisional qualifying time and the fourth-best all-time school mark.

Despite the fact that she was running well ahead of the field, Ross (Sr., Kennewick, Wa.) took first in the 1500 in a time of 4 minutes, 33.31 seconds to improve her qualifying time in that event. Later, she remained unbeaten in three 800 races this season, holding off Central Washington rival Alicen Maier by 0.57 seconds in 2:12.88.

Castle cruised to a 2-second PR of 3:53.78--the best metric mile time at SPU in seven years and No. 9 in the NCAA this season. He pulled away from the pack, particularly in the final 200 meters, to win by a margin of nearly 2 seconds. Castle also finished fourth in the 800 (1:56.13).

Another outstanding time came from Paul Mach (So., Seattle, Wa./King's), who won the 400 hurdles in 54.11. It was the No. 2 time in school history.

Defending her meet title in the shot put was Dionna Anderson (Sr., Lynnwood, Wa./Edmonds-Woodway), who won with a heave of 43 feet, 2 1/4 inches. Jennifer Pyeatt (So., Graham, Wa./Bethel) was runner-up at 39-0 1/2.

Pyeatt and teammate Stephanie Huffman (Sr., Brush Prairie, Wa./Prairie) each competed in four events.

Huffman finished second to Ross in points, taking second place in the long jump (17-11 1/2), the 100 hurdles (15.730 and third in the high jump (5-1). Seattle Pacific's three other second-place finishes came from Ruth Hawkinson (Jr., Roy, Wa./Yelm) in the 5000 (18:36.8), Jawea Harder (Sr., Port Townsend, Wa.) in the 400 hurdles (1:03.75) and Ally Studer (So., Redmond, Wa./Redmond) in the pole vault (10-2).

The women, got strong 4 x 400 relay legs from Josie Lavin (Fr., Bremerton, Wa./Bremerton) and Sarah Kraybill (Jr., Seattle, Wa./Ballard) to finish third and prevent Western Washington from overtaking the Falcons in the meet's final event.

Next Friday Seattle Pacific sends both teams to the Pelluer Invitational in Cheney, Wash.