SEATTLE (May 14) -- A total of eight women and one man from Seattle Pacific University's track & field teams received entries Tuesday in the NCAA Division II Championships, which begin next week in San Angelo, Tex. It equals the Falcons' largest combined contingent since 1989.

In all, Seattle Pacific has 10 women's entries--the most since getting 11 in 1989. Stephanie Huffman (Sr., Brush Prairie, Wa./Prairie) and Laura Widman (Jr., Colfax, Wa.) are each entered in two events. Huffman will throw the javelin and Widman will long jump in addition to the heptathlon, where they are both joined by Leah Wiiest (Sr., Spokane, Wa./Deer Park). Huffman is ranked No. 4 among qualifiers in both the javelin and heptathlon and Widman is No. 5 in the heptathlon.

Dionna Anderson (Sr., Lynnwood, Wa./Edmonds-Woodway) is No. 4 in the shot put and Jawea Harder (Sr., Port Townsend, Wa.) No. 4 in the 400-meter hurdles. Each is a first-time outdoor qualifier along with Wiiest, although Anderson finished eighth at the indoor championships in March.

Rachel Ross (Sr., Kennewick, Wa.) returns to the NCAA meet for the fourth consecutive year and will run the 800 meters. Coach Jack Hoyt opted not to enter Ross in two events despite the fact that she would have made the cut in the 1500 as well. Sarah Kraybill (Jr., Seattle, Wa./Ballard) joins Ross in the 800.

Rounding out the women's list is pole vaulter Ally Studer (So., Redmond, Wa./Redmond), who also qualified as a freshman.

Nathanael Castle (Sr., Gooding, Id.) becomes the first SPU male to make nationals since 1998. He will run the 1500 meters.

Missing the cut were Paul Mach (So., Seattle, Wa./King's) in the men's 400 hurdles, Jennifer Pyeatt (So., Graham, Wa./Bethel) in the women's 400 hurdles and Huffman in the long jump.

Competition gets underway beginning May 23 and continues through May 25 on the campus of Angelo State.