CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 24) -- Seattle Pacific University's Jessica Pixler and Jane Larson each advanced into their respective race finals Thursday night as the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships got underway at the Irwin Belk Complex.

Pixler (Fr., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake) won her heat of the 1500 meters in a time of 4 minutes, 27.30 seconds, fending off a challenge from Adams State's Tanya Gaurmer. Pixler is unbeaten versus collegians at that distance.

Larson (Fr., Fall City, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) squeezed into the 3000 final, taking the 11th of 12 spots in 10:07.86. She will run again Friday evening.

Eliminated in their qualifying heats were Karin Rohde (Jr., Bellingham, Wa./Mt. Baker) in the steeplchae and NyEma Sims (Fr., Portland, Or./Jefferson) in the 100. Rohde, the No. 7 seed, was last in her heat and 16th overall in 11:27.34. Sims was clocked in 12.09, taking 13th. She needed to run 11.84 to make Saturday's final.

Running prelims Friday are Pixler (800), Sims (200) and Eddie Strickler (Sr., Richland, Wa.) in the men's 800.

After the first day of the heptathlon, the Falcons' Brittany Bekins may have shown signs of rust due to a rib injury. Bekins (Jr., Everett, Wa./Cascade) trailed the field in 14th place, albeit only 100 points from seventh and she typically is stronger in the final three events.

The competition's No. 2 seed, Bekins was about 125 points behind her qualifying pace. Much of that was attributable to a shot put of 37 feet, 2¼ inches­more than 3 feet off her best. She ran the hurdles in 15.59 seconds, the 200 in 26.98 and high-jumped 5-0¼.

Bekins was sidelined after sustaining the injury Apr. 13, appearing only in selected events the final two meets of the regular season. The heptathlon concludes with the long jump, javelin and 800 meters.

Deserea Brown of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville scored 3128 to take the first day lead following wins in the hurdles and 200 and second in the high jump.