SEATTLE (May 16) ­ Defending decathlon champion Chris Randolph leads a group of eight Seattle Pacific University qualifiers for the NCAA Division II track and field championships next week in Emporia, Kansas.

Randolph (Sr., Lone Tree, Co./Denver Christian) is the runaway leader in the decathlon, with his school-record score of 7621 nearly 600 more than the No. 2 qualifier. Randolph's winning score a year ago was 7309.

Seven members of the SPU women's team made the final cut, five of them for the first time.

Lauren VerMulm (So., Mount Vernon, Wa.) is No. 4 in the javelin, while Teona Perkins (Jr., Kennewick, Wa.) and Kelsey Cooley (So., Missoula, Mt./Hellgate) are No. 5 in the the high jump and heptathlon, respectively. VerMulm finished fourth and Cooley eighth last season.

Linda Blake (Sr., Richland, Wa.) is the No. 7 qualifier in the heptathlon. Karin Rohde (So., Bellingham, Wa./Mount Baker) and Brandi McCoy (Sr., Richland, Wa.) are No.s 8 and 16 in the steeplechase. Mary Moriarty (Fr., Seattle, Wa./Ballard) is No. 14 in the 3000-meter run.

The NCAA Championships are May 25-27 at Welch Stadium on the campus of Emporia State.