Out on top. One of the more remarkable careers in the existence of Seattle Pacific University athletics came to a climactic close at the NCAA Track & Field Championships May 23-25. Stephanie Huffman (Sr., Brush Prairie, Wa./Prairie), placing second in the javelin and third in the heptathlon, scored 14 of the Falcons' 17 points as the women overcame more than their share of setbacks to finish tied for 19th overall. That effort by Huffman, a four-year letterwinner in volleyball and track, earned her a share of the school's athlete of the year award for the third time­a feat matched by only Olympian distance runner Bente Moe (1987-89).

Four score. Of the eight women and one male who qualified for nationals, four returned home as All-America. Dionna Anderson (Sr., Lynnwood, Wa./Edmonds-Woodway/Edmonds CC) did so for the second time in just over two months, adding a seventh-place finish in the shot put to her 8th place indoors in March. Anderson threw 46 feet, 3 1/4 inches to make the final round. Ally Studer (So., Redmond, Wa./Redmond) repeated as All-America in the pole vault, tying for seventh after clearing a season-best 11-10. Nathanael Castle (Sr., Gooding, Id./Gooding) became the first SPU male All-America since 1998, using a late surge to earn eighth place in the 1500-meter run in a personal-best time of 3 minutes, 50.23 seconds.

Saved the best for last. Castle, Huffman and Leah Wiiest (Sr., Spokane, Wa./Deer Park) reached the climax of their respective careers at the NCAAs. Huffman's score of 5389 points was best in three years and a PR by more than 250 points. She achieved personal-best marks in five of the seven heptathlon events, including a time of 14.81 in the hurdles, a high jump of 5-7, a shot put of 36-3, a 200 dash of 25.66 and a long jump of 19-8. The latter ranks her No. 3 all-time and the total score moves her up to No. 4. Castle's PR was his third in his last five races and the time ranks him No. 2 all-time behind record-holder Jon Swanson's 3:48.05 from 1995. Wiiest, although she finished a non-scoring 11th in the heptathlon, raised her PR by 21 points to 4795. Among her new personal records was the long jump (18-3 3/4), the hurdles (15.51) and the 200, in which she tied the No. 5 all-time clocking of 25.19.

Not as planned. Not all the news from Texas was so bright, however. The Falcons' hopes of placing among the top five women's teams took a series of hits on the second day of the meet. First, Laura Widman (Jr., Colfax, Wa./Colfax) was knocked out of the meet when she suffered a pulled hamstring during her first long jump attempt of the heptathlon. Widman, who had begun the day in eighth place and expected to contend for a top-four finish, also withdrew from the open long jump. She had hit season-best marks in the hurdles, shot put and 200 during the first day of the heptathlon and was 62 points ahead of her pace when she scored 5004 points. Several hours after Widman's injury, Rachel Ross (Sr., Kennewick, Wa./Kennewick) paid the price for taking an early lead into a stiff wind in the 800 prelim. Ross, a three-time All-America needing to finish among the top eight, took 13th overall in 2:13.39. Her qualifying time had been 2:09.36. Also eliminated in the prelim stage was Sarah Kraybill (Jr., Seattle, Wa./Ballard). Following a series of breakthrough performances to qualify, she ran a 2:18.88­more than 7 seconds off her PR. First-time national qualifier Jawea Harder (Sr., Port Townsend, Wa.) missed the cut in the 400 hurdles, with a time of 1:02.87.

Good news, bad news. The good news for Coach Jack Hoyt is that Studer, Widman and Kraybill are all expected back next season. On the other hand, he must replace some true legends in Huffman and Ross. Already he has signed six recruits and distance standout Jamie Witt (So., Folsom, Ca.) returns from redshirt status in 2003. In addition, the Falcons will return five other all-conference performers from the women's team, including past All-America hurdler Jennifer Pyeatt (So., Graham, Wa./Bethel). Castle will run cross country in the fall, but top billing on the track squad will likely go to intermediate hurdler Paul Mach (So., Seattle, Wa./King's), a two-time conference champ and provisional qualifier, plus Tim LeCount (Fr., Battle Ground, Wa./Battle Ground), who ranks No. 5 all-time in the 1500.

For the record. The only new school record established in 2002 was the women's steeplechase, a new event. Kara Richard (Fr., Springbrook, NY/Iroquois) ran a season-best of 11:34.2. It was one of 11 top-five all-time marks, six by the women and five for the men. In addition to those by Huffman in the long jump and heptathlon, she also is No. 5 in the triple jump (36-7). Wiiest made the only dent in the running events. Anderson is now No. 3 in the shot put with her PR of 47-4 1/2 while Amber Rose (So., Olympia, Wa./Capital) is No. 3 in the pole vault (10-4). Castle and LeCount (3:55.72) shook-up the men's 1500 and Mach climbed from No. 2 to 3 in the 400 hurdles (53.48). Mach, Castle, Neal Fryett (Sr., Pullman, Wa./Logos) and Micah Kellcy (Fr., Lakewood, Wa./Clover Park) broke in at No. 5 in the 4 x 400 relay (3:20.94).

Fractions. Huffman became Seattle Pacific's seventh heptathlon All-America in the past six years and the 19th since 1986. Her 14 points was the highest total at nationals since Karin Grelsson scored 23 in 1993...Cross country head coach Doris Heritage will be inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame July 13 in Utica, N.Y. Heritage, who won five consecutive world cross country championships, 14 U.S. track and cross country titles and twice represented the United States in the Olympic Games, will be joining her third hall of fame...Five of the six signed recruits finished among the top four in their respective state championships, held earlier this month. Danielle Ayears-Stamper of LaCrosse-Washtucna won her fourth consecutive class B titles in the long jump (18-6 1/4) and 100 hurdles (15.09). She will defend her state heptathlon crown in June. Janna Schaafsma of Soldotna repeated as Alaska's winner of the 100 (15.20) and 300 (45.98) hurdles. Richland's Linda Blake was runner-up (15.20) in the 100 hurdles at the Washington 4A meet. Jean Kolb of South Eugene finished third (12.39) in the 100 dash at the Oregon 4A meet while Allison Hedges of Richland tied for fourth (10-6) in the pole vault. Distance runner Brandi McCoy of Richland did not run this spring due to foot injuries.