Two is enough. On the strength of two top-three finishes, Seattle Pacific University managed a tie for 16th place among women's teams at the 2003 NCAA Division II Championships. For the Falcons, it was the third straight top-20 appearance and the 17th in the last 23 years. Better yet, the men's and women's squads were relatively young; four of the six NCAA qualifiers and three others who made provisional standards are expected to return next season.

Just an appetizer. In the most impressive performance by an SPU freshman in 11 years, Danielle Ayers-Stamper (Fr., LaCrosse, Wa.) took the silver medal in the heptathlon at nationals. She moved into second place during the fifth event, the long jump, and went on to finish with a personal-best score of 5120 points. Nikkisha Maynard of Lincoln (Mo.) parlayed a 20-foot long jump into a huge lead and won easily with 5378. Not since 1992, when Tiffany Colman won the javelin, has an SPU freshman finished as high at an NCAA meet. "It's definitely unusual for a freshman to be this solid over seven events," said SPU Coach Jack Hoyt. "Danielle doesn't have any weakness." She and Maynard both overtook first-day leader Sarah Hoffman in the long jump, with Ayers-Stamper's best leap, her first before two fouls, measured at 17-10 1/4. Next, a javelin throw of 128-6 consolidated her position and she held off Hoffman by running a PR of 2:26.01 in the 800 meters.

What a way to go. In her final collegiate outing, Sarah Kraybill (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Ballard) ran the race of her life but was still forced to settle for third place in the 800-meter final. Kraybill improved her PR by more than seven-tenths of a second, to 2:08.41, in a steady rain. Steph Kuhlman of Grand Valley State (Mi.) upset favorite Andrea Morgan of Findlay to claim first place in 2:05.34. Morgan's time was 2:06.84. Although it was her lowest finish of the outdoor season, it was Kraybill's best ever placement at a national meet. She was fourth indoors this winter and had not qualified for the outdoor final in the past two years. Her time ranks No. 4 all-time at Seattle Pacific and it was the best NCAA finish in an 800 since Heidi Hamlin was third in 1993.

"Sarah's happy because she ran her best race and that was still good for the top three," said Hoyt.

Not as planned. Seattle Pacific had the potential to score 22-25 points, which would've been good enough for a top-10 finish. Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way, with three other women finishing between 10th and 12th place. Pole vaulter Ally Studer (Jr., Redmond, Wa./Redmond), a two-time outdoor All-America tied for 10th. She passed on the opening height, then cleared 11-5 3/4 on her first try. But after switching to a longer pole, Studer missed all three tries at 11-11 3/4. Abilene Christian's Katie Eckley was the winner at 12-11 1/2. Laura Widman (Sr., Colfax, Wa.) was a non-scoring 12th in the heptathlon with 4702. Widman got a season-best long jump of 18-0 1/2 yet was unable to climb into scoring contention. Josie Lavin (So., Bremerton, Wa.) took 12th in the 1500. After winning her qualifying heat in 4:35.52, her strategy in the final was to stay with the lead pack and then kick the final 300 meters. However, Lavin was unable to keep pace with the leaders after two laps and her time of 4:46.62 was more than 10 seconds off her most recent outings. Paul Mach (Jr., Seattle, Wa./King's) did not make it to the 400 hurdles final. His time of 53.61 was good for fifth in his heat and 16th overall.

Not done yet. Three of Hoyt's most talented freshmen aren't done yet. He plans to take Ayers-Stamper, Linda Blake (Fr., Richland, Wa.) and Chris Randolph ((Fr., Lone Tree, Co./Denver Christian) to the USA Junior National Championships June 19-20 at Stanford. Ayers-Stamper and Blake will compete in the heptathlon and Randolph the decathlon. Blake and Randolph each finished second in their respective events at the GNAC Championships.

Academically, speaking. Mach, Kraybill, Widman and Studer were voted to the Verizon Academic All-District 8 first and second teams. Mach, Kraybill and Widman made the first team and are under consideration for the Academic All-America team, to be announced June 19. Mach, who won his third consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference 400-meter hurdles crown last month, is a computer science major with a 3.74 grade point average. He won four of seven races this season. Kraybill is an English major with a 3.74 grade point average. She was All-America both indoors and outdoors in the 800 meters in her final season. Widman is a repeat selection to the district team. A psychology major with a 3.65 GPA, she qualified for the NCAA heptathlon this season. Studer, a biology major with a 3.24 GPA, finished fourth in the NCAA indoor pole vault and won the GNAC title.

For the record. Apart from the women's pole vault, there was only a modest impact on the record book this season. Studer raised her pole vault record from 12-2 to 12-4 and is followed in the all-time top five by Allie Hedges (Fr., Richland, Wa.) at 11-9, Amy Harris (Fr., Philomath, Or./Crescent Valley) at 11-4 1/4 and Amber Rose (Jr., Olympia, Wa./Capital) at 10-4 1/4. Kraybill's 800 was the only update in running and Dianna Grossglass (Fr., LaConner, Wa.) got the only other change in the field events, going to No. 5 in the triple jump (36-6 3/4). For the men, Mach improved his No. 2 time in the hurdles to 52.91 while Micah Kellcy (Sr., Lakewood, Wa./Clover Park) comes in at No. 5 (54.68). Mach, Kellcy, Randolph and Scott Van Hess (Sr., Salem, Or./McKay) comprised the No. 2 4 x 400 relay (3:20.00).

Reinforcements on the way. Although he loses only three men and three women to graduation, Hoyt has already signed eight recruits for next season. The women should see improvement in the sprints, jumps and javelin. Sharon Bjella of Everett took second in the state 4A high jump (5-6) for the second year in a row; Danae Clark (Hillsboro, Or./Glencoe) was second in the 4A long jump (17-4); Kristin Janney (White Salmon, Wa.) was third in both the 2A long and triple jumps and Jennifer Marsh (Kirkland, Wa./Juanita) was sixth in the 4A 800. In addition, Kiyatta Leonhardt (Petaluma, Ca./St. Vincent) was a district winner of the 100 (12.8), 200 (26.1) and 400 (58.2). Rounding out the female recruits are Molly Hornbuckle (Burien, Wa./Highline), a Seamount League winner in the javelin with a season-best throw of 132-0; Anna Soule (Puyallup, Wa./Emerald Ridge), who finished sixth in the state 4A 100; Kelsey Cooley (Missoula, Mt./Hellgate), a heptathlon prospect and state champion in the high jump as a junior. In addition, the Falcons figure to have the services of middle-distance runner Brandi McCoy (Fr., Richland, Wa.), the prized recruit of a year ago. McCoy missed both the track and cross country seasons while recovering from foot surgery. Eddie Strickler (Richland, Wa.), sixth in the state 4A 800 and also strong in the 400, is the top male prospect.

Why not go camping? Cross country head coach Doris Heritage is preparing for the annual summertime Falcon Running Camp on Whidbey Island. The resident camp is July 20-25 at the Casey Conference Center and the cost is $330. Space is limited. For a registration form, call (206) 281-2085 or click here.

Missing links. For the latest and best information on Seattle Pacific University athletics, stay where you're at -- on The Falcons Online. For updated standings and statistics, see the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web site.