SEATTLE, Wa. (Jan. 31)—Paul Mach sped to a NCAA Division II provisional qualifying time in the men’s 800 meters to finish ninth overall at the Washington Invitational Saturday afternoon.

Mach (Sr., Seattle, Wa./King’s) was clocked in 1:52.40 in the second invitational heat of the men’s 800 meter dash. The senior improved on his previous NCAA Division II provisional qualifying time by over three tenths of a second and in doing so, increased his chances of winning a trip to the NCAA Division II Indoor national meet in Boston in mid-March.

In the high jump, decathlete Chris Randolph (So., Lone Tree, Co./Denver Christian) tied his personal best leap of two meters to finish second overall in the men’s open section. Teammate Sharon Bjella (Fr., Everett, Wa.) cleared the bar at 5’3.

The women’s open 800 featured an 18th place finish by freshman middle-distance runner Jennifer Marsh (Fr., Kirkland, Wa./Juanita). Marsh was clocked in 2:13.55, a four second betterment of her previous best set last weekend at UW.

The Falcons compete next, Sunday (Feb. 1) at Washington in the Indoor Open.