Contenders nevertheless. They may not be at full-strength, but so far that hasn’t stopped the Seattle Pacific University track & field teams. The Falcons, beset by injuries to several key performers this season, will nonetheless be seeking several individual titles as well as the women’s overall crown Saturday (May 8) at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships in Monmouth, Ore. The final opportunity for national qualifying marks will come next week, when SPU hosts the Ken Foreman Invitational May 15.

Poised to take five. It’s been a phenomenal year for Falcon women at the conference level, with four teams seizing GNAC championships, including those by the cross country and indoor track squads. Now Coach Jack Hoyt has SPU poised to take the fifth. Despite the absence of two All-America and another conference champion this spring, Seattle Pacific is the chief threat to defending champion and host Western Oregon. The Wolves, who ended the Falcons’ three-year conference reign by three points last year, are particularly strong in the linear jumps and throws. Seattle Pacific is competitive in virtually all the races, as well as the pole vault and javelin. Key events where SPU and Western Oregon go head-to-head are the relays, 200-meter dash and 800 run. A year ago, the GNAC title was determined in the final race, the 1600 relay.

Leaders of the pack. The Falcon women feature six individuals who are ranked No. 1 in the conference. In addition, they own the top times in both relays and have No. 2 marks in five events. Frontrunners include Jean Kolb (So., Eugene, Or./South Eugene) in the 100, Jennifer Marsh (Fr., Kirkland, Wa./Juanita) in the 800, Karen Dickson (Fr., El Dorado Hills, Ca./Oak Ridge) in the 10,000, Janna Schaafsma (So., Soldotna, Ak.) in the 400 hurdles, Allie Hedges (So., Richland, Wa.) in the pole vault and Sara Johnson (Jr., Kennewick, Wa.) in the javelin. Five of the six are freshmen or sophomores and Johnson is a transfer. Another newcomer, Kinyatta Leonhardt (Fr., Petaluma, Ca./St. Vincent), who led SPU to the indoor conference title in February, is No. 2 in both the 200 and 400. She and Kolb run on both relays. Danielle Ayers-Stamper (So., LaCrosse, Wa.) accounted for three victories and 43 points at the GNAC meet last year, but is an ‘04 redshirt, along with All-America pole-vaulter Ally Studer (Sr., Redmond, Wa.) and Josie Lavin (Jr., Bremerton, Wa.), the conference cross country champion last fall.

Their best shot. The men’s team is also experiencing depleted resources, yet still has a few contenders. Eddie Strickler (Fr., Richland, Wa.) ranks third in the 800, as does Micah Kellcy (Sr., Lakewood, Wa./Clover Park) in the 400 hurdles. The latter event title has been the sole property of Paul Mach (Sr., Seattle, Wa./King’s) the past three seasons. But Mach, the indoor 800 champ, is a redshirt due to a hip injury. Multi-event threat Chris Randolph (So., Lone Tree, Co./Denver Christian), who has missed six weeks with an ankle sprain, is questionable. If cleared, Randolph could be in three events. Tim LeCount (Jr., Battle Ground, Wa.) is among the GNAC leaders in the 5000.

They’re everywhere. A key factor in Seattle Pacific’s past success both at the conference and national level has been its multi-event athletes. GNAC heptathlon champion Linda Blake (So., Richland, Wa.) and bronze medalist Kristin Janney (White Salmon, Wa./Columbia) will be busy picking-up points here and there. Blake is entered in the 100 hurdles, high jump and long jump.