Complete Results (NCAA Website)

PENSACOLA, Fla. (Nov. 18) – Matching its best finish in 20 years, the Seattle Pacific University women’s cross country team took sixth place at the NCAA Division II Championships Saturday under warm, sunny skies at the Escambia County Equestrian Center.

The Falcon women's cross country team had a sixth-place finish at the NCAA National Championships. The start of the race is pictured here. With five of the seven team members freshmen or sophs, the future looks bright.

Freshman Jessica Pixler (Fr., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake) ran with the lead pack for the first mile and finished 10th overall in 20 minutes, 40 seconds. Esther Komen of Colorado’s Western State was the winner, pulling away to start the third mile and prevailing by over 6 seconds in 20:09.

Adams State, also of Colorado, won its fourth consecutive NCAA title, edging Western 95-101. Seattle Pacific’s total score was 195 points.

“I’m very proud of these ladies,” said SPU coach Doris Heritage, whose squad of seven included three freshmen and two sophomores. “We were shooting for the top 10 and hoping to do a little better than, and they surpassed even that.”

Pixler’s placement was the highest for a Falcon freshman and she was the first rookie to earn All-America status since Charlotte Jensen was also sixth in 1990. Pixler had won her first four outings, including the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and West Regional titles.

“Jessica ran beyond her self, which is good,” said Heritage. “She has everything to learn and gain. Four of our ladies ran personal records, so it’s very pleasing.”

Mary Moriarty (So., Seattle, Wa./Ballard) bounced back from a subpar regional race to take second on the team and 51st overall in 21:36. Moriarty led a pack of four which completed the Falcons’ scoring contingent.

Karin Rohde (Jr., Bellingham, Wa./Mt. Baker) was 57th in 21:39, Suzie Strickler (So., Richland, Wa.) was 62nd and Jane Larson (Fr., Fall City, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) 63rd, both in 21:44.

Megan Wrightman (Jr., Bend, Or.) was 79th in 22:04 and Kate Harline (Fr., Orem, Ut.) 132nd in 23:04.

Team scores: 1-Adams State, 94; 2-Western State, 101; 3-Grand Valley State, 165; 4-Cal State L.A., 169; 5-Harding, 186; 6-Seattle Pacific, 195; 7-UC-Colorado Springs, 211; 8-Wisconsin Parkside 216; 9-Chico State, 228; 10-Edinboro, 288 (14 others)
Individual results (6000 meters): 1-Esther Komen, WSU, 20:09; 2-Nicole Plante, UML, 20:15; 3-Laura Aderman, GVS, 20:19; 4-Rachael Lanzel, EU, 20:28; 5-Agnes Kroneraff, WSU, 20:29; 6-Jael Koech, FSU, 20:32; 7-Nicole Blaesser, IUP, 20:33; 8-Brittany Somers, ASU, 20:35; Janee Jones, HU, 20:36; 10-Jessica Pixler, SPU, 20:40.
SPU finishers: 10-Pixler, 20:40; 51-Moriarty, 21:36; 57-Rohde, 21:39; 62-Strickler, 21:44; 63-Larson, 21:44; 79-Wrightman, 22:04; 132-Harline, 23:04