Complete Results (Meet Website)

WALNUT, Calif. (Apr. 13) ­ With a decisive burst over the final half-lap, Seattle Pacific University's Jessica Pixler won the 1500-meter run at the 49th annual Mount SAC Relays Friday night at Hilmer Lodge Stadium.

Pixler (Fr., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake) broke from the pack in the backstretch and ran the best time by an SPU freshman and the No. 2 school mark overall, winning by some 15 meters in 4 minutes, 19.92 seconds.

Colorado's Jenny Barringer was the race runner-up in 4:21.53.

It improved Pixler's season best­already the No. 1 time in NCAA Division II and No. 6 among all divisions­by over 3 seconds.

Former Danish Olympian Gitte Karlshoj set the Seattle Pacific record of 4:13.12 in 1988.

The Falcons also got two new provisional qualifying marks from Jane Larson and Eddie Strickler.

Larson (Fr., Fall City, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) ran a collegiate-best time while taking fourth in her 1500 heat. She was 14th overall in the college open division in 4:39.77­an improvement of more than 4 seconds over her previous best.

Strickler (Sr., Richland, Wa.) ran his best outdoor 800 in nearly a year. He was seventh overall and second in his heat with a clocking of 1:52.65­second-best in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference this season.

Elsewhere, Brian Cronrath (Jr., Battle Ground, Wa.) easily won his heat of the 1500 in 3:53.12 to place sixth overall. He had run a slightly better time last week.

Brittany Bekins (Jr., Everett, Wa./Cascade), who had met the provisional qualifying standard in the heptathlon with the nation's highest score Thursday, withdrew from the javelin after injuring her ribs on her opening throw.

On Sunday the Falcons have Teona Perkins high-jumping and both Latasha Essien and NyEma Sims in the Mount SAC sprints. A larger contingent of athletes will compete Saturday at the Spike Arlt Invitational in Ellensburg.