CARSON, Calif. (June 26) ­ Danielle Ayers-Stamper of Seattle Pacific University earned a spot on the U.S. national team after taking eighth place in the heptathlon at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Sunday.

Ayers-Stamper (Jr., Lacrosse, Wa.) scored a personal-best 5646 points over the seven events, including the nationally-televised 800-meter run to conclude the competition. Hyleas Fountain won the meet with a score of 6208.

By finishing among the top eight, Ayers-Stamper became the first Falcon since Anita Sartin in 1987 to make the U.S. national team. Ayers-Stamper will compete in a heptathlon dual meet in The Netherlands Aug. 27-28.

"Even though the wind was shifting around on us, I felt pretty good about my meet," said Ayers-Stamper, who had finished second in NCAA Division II last month. "I had hoped for a better long jump (18 feet, 6 inches), but my javelin (137-10) was good and my 800, even though I was pretty nervous beforehand, was near my PR (2:21.01)."

Ayers-Stamper's best mark was a career-best high jump of 5-10, which rates No. 4 all-time at SPU. Her other marks were a 100 hurdles time of 13.87, a 200 of 26.16 and a shot put of 39-5 1/4.

"Danielle really handled the pressure and performed well," said coach Jack Hoyt. "She was joining a new peer group and if the wind had cooperated she would have scored 5750. Still, with all the added pressure of TV and the competition, she stayed composed."

Fountain and runner-up Virginia Miller (6192) will represent the U.S. at the World Championships in Helsinki Aug. 6-14.

Another SPU athlete, Lauren VerMulm (Fr., Mount Vernon, Wa.) finished eighth in the junior championships javelin. VerMulm's best throw of 143-6 came on her first attempt and got her through to the finals. Rachel Yorkovich won with a mark of 166-1.

Hoyt, who last year won the U.S. masters decathlon crown, ran sixth in the masters 110 hurdles. Foremr NFL star and national champion Willie Gault won in 13.87 while Hoyt was clocked in 14.96.