SAN ANGELO, Tex. (May 24) -- By virtue of the school's third-highest score all-time, Seattle Pacific University's Stephanie Huffman finished third in the heptathlon at the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships Friday.

Huffman (Sr., Brush Prairie, Wa./Prairie) shattered her previous best score by more than 250 points, hitting five personal-best marks during the seven events, and finished with 5389 points. Meredith Davis of Morningside (Ia.) won with 5670 and Nikkisha Maynard of Lincoln (Mo.) was next with 5485.

The Falcons' Laura Widman (Jr., Colfax, Wa.), eighth after four events and expected to contend for one of the top spots, pulled her hamstring as she planted on her first long jump attempt and was forced to withdraw. Leah Wiiest (Sr., Spokane, Wa./Deer Park) of SPU placed 11th despite a career-best score of 4795.

During qualifying for the open 800 meters in the evening, neither Rachel Ross (Sr., Kennewick, Wa.) nor Sarah Kraybill (Jr., Seattle, Wa./Ballard) was able to advance to Saturday's final.

Huffman had finished second at the NCAAs in 1999 with a score of 5121 but had only broken 5000 points once since that time.

"To be honest, I was surprised by Stephanie's score," said SPU Coach Jack Hoyt. "We had talked about 5400 points and she nearly did it, and she surpassed a lot of her own goals along the way."

Huffman's second day began with a breakthrough long jump of 19 feet, 8 inches--ranking her No. 3 all-time at the school. She then threw the javelin 137-11 to move into second place momentarily. An 800-meter time of 2 minutes, 30.30 seconds pushed her back to third, however. An emotional Huffman was moved to tears--tears of joy and relief, said Hoyt--on the awards stand. She will complete her collegiate career by throwing in the open javelin Saturday.

Wiiest recorded a personal-best in the long jump (18-3 1/2) and was fourth overall in the 800 (2:21.21). A javelin mark of 99-8 kept her from moving up into contention for a scoring place among the top eight.

Widman had been plagued by a tight hamstring throughout the season before finally recovering sufficiently last month to post the nation's No. 5 qualifying score of 5004. She was ahead of that pace after the first day with 2781 points. The injury also ruled her out of Saturday's open long jump.

"After everything Laura had done to get this far, it was a real blow, both to her and the team," said Hoyt. "We feel badly but at the same time we know she will bounce back next season. He goal remains to win it all."

Ross and Kraybill each ran one of the slowest races of the season. Ross, who had qualified with a time of 2:09.36 and won five of her six races this season, was fourth in her heat and 14th overall in 2:13.39. Kraybill, coming off three consecutive PRs, including a 2:10.46 to end the regular season, was 22nd in 2:18.84.

The top two finishers in each of three heats plus the next two best times advanced to the final. Ross had been fourth in the final a year ago.