PENSACOLA, Fla. (Nov. 17) – Much of the success achieved by the Seattle Pacific University women’s cross country team has been unexpected. And the coach would like to keep it that way.

The Falcons are ranked 6th in the nation going into Saturday morning’s NCAA Division II championships at the Escambia County Equestrian Center. The course is 6000 meters.

“We don’t have a lot of expectations, other than finishing in the top 10,” said SPU coach Doris Heritage. “We’re young (three freshmen, two sophomores) and most of these young ladies put enough pressure on themselves.

“But I’ve told them there’s nothing wrong with being a little greedy, to go ahead and get what they can.”

Seattle Pacific won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship and finished a close second to Cal State L.A. at the West Regional two weeks ago.

“The course is a lot like the conference course, and we did well there,” said Heritage, who takes a team to nationals for the first time since 1999.

She describes the trail as wide and generally flat. Temperatures at race time will be in the high fifties.

Jessica Pixler (Fr., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake) goes into the race undefeated in four outings. She won the regional by 10 seconds.

Also running for the Falcons are Kate Harline (Fr., Orem, Ut.), Jane Larson (Fr., Fall City, Wa./Cedar Park Christian), Mary Moriarty (So., Seattle, Wa./Ballard), Karin Rohde (Jr., Bellingham, Wa./Mt. Baker), Suzie Strickler (So., Richland, Wa.), Megan Wrightman (Jr., Bend, Or.).

Colorado’s Adams State is the three-time defending NCAA champion and Grand Valley State (Mich.), last year’s runner-up, is ranked No. 1 in the country.