Complete results
Sunday's UW Indoor Open heat sheet
UW Indoor Open schedule
SEATTLE -- Jessica Pixler says she hasn't done any speed work on the track yet.
But one would never know it from looking at the stop watch -- or at the Seattle Pacific record book.
For the second time in two weeks, the Falcon senior erased her own school standard in the women's indoor mile, crossing the finish line in 4 minutes, 32.48 seconds on Saturday in the Husky Classic at the University of Washington.
Just two weeks ago on the same track at the Dempsey Indoor facility, Pixler (Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake HS) cruised to the UW Invitational mile title in 4:33.46. She had to settle for second place on Saturday behind University of Florida senior Charlotte Browning, who won in 4:31.24 -- best time in the country at any level this winter.
But Pixler, who went back and forth with Browning most of the way before Browning edged in front with about 400 meters left, was hardly disappointed.
“We went out a little bit slower than I wanted to -- maybe one or two seconds slower,” Pixler said. “In the end, that didn't work out in my favor. But aside from that, I think I ran a smart race. I'm really pleased with the time. It was a second faster than two weeks ago, and I wanted to run faster than two weeks ago.”
Pixler already had her NCAA Division II automatic qualifying time in the mile, and she will try to make it a four-year sweep of that event when the nationals take place March 12-13 in Albuquerque, N.M.
“It was really exciting to see Jessica run that time and run a second faster than last time,” SPU distance coach Erika Daligcon said. “It shows she's right there and it wasn't just a one-time deal. It's just exciting how strong and powerful she is.”
Fellow Falcon seniors Jane Larson, Lisa Anderberg and Kate Harline also enjoyed productive days.
Larson (Fall City, Wash./Cedar Park Christian HS) did double duty. She started off with a seventh-place overall finish in the 800 meters, logging a personal-best time of 2:12.71 that put her onto the NCAA provisional qualifying list and made her an automatic qualifier for next Saturday's Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships, which will take place in Nampa, Idaho.
Then, with only about an hour's rest, Larson came within one second of her career-best mile time, finishing in 4:48.35, putting her 13th overall in the meet's elite invitational field. Like Pixler, she already had her NCAA automatic qual time taken care of, having run 4:48.29 in the UW Invitational on Jan. 30. Larson's career best is 4:47.39, set last season.
Anderberg (Edmonds, Wash./Kamiak HS) wiped nearly three second off of her career best in the 800, placing eighth overall in 2:12.96 -- right on Larson's heels in the same heat -- and pushing herself higher up the NCAA provisional qualifying list. Both she and Larson are about a second away from the automatic qual standard of 2:11.60.
“The key for both of them was having fun with it, and it resulted in a great race for both of them,” Daligcon said. “Then for Jane to come back within an hour and run that mile showed how tough she is and how fit she is.”
Harline (Orem, Utah) broke the five-minute mark in the mile for the first time in her career to put herself onto the NCAA provisional qualifying list. Harline hit the wire in 4:59.71, making her 15th overall in the regular mile (run prior to the invitational mile).
Sophomore Brittany Aanstad (Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens HS) was part of a seven-way tie for second place in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 3¾ inches.
SPU's only male competitor on Saturday was senior Chad Meis (Renton, Wash./Seattle Christian HS). Meis placed 32nd in the men's mile in 4:17.03.
Virtually all other members of the Falcons, most of whom are seeking GNAC automatic or provisional qualifying marks, will be in action on Sunday in the UW Indoor Open at Dempsey beginning at 8 a.m.
NCAA Track
Husky Classic
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Dempsey Indoor (University of Washington)/Seattle, Wash.
WOMEN
Mile -- 1, Laura Carlyle (Oregon St.) 4:50.90. SPU placer -- 15, Kate Harline 4:59.71.
800 -- 1, Kailey Smith (Univ. of Saskatchewan) 2:10.67. SPU placers -- 7, Jane Larson 2:12.71; 8, Lisa Anderberg 2:12.96.
Invitational mile -- 1, Charlotte Browning (Florida) 4:31.24. SPU placers -- 2, Jessica Pixler 4:32.48; 13, Jane Larson 4:48.35.
High jump -- 1, Samantha Balentine (Hawaii) 5-7 3/4 (1.72m). SPU placer -- 2, (tie) Brittany Aanstad 5-3 3/4 (1.62m).
MEN
Mile -- 1, Elkana Rotich (Texas El Paso) 4:03.10. SPU placer -- 32, Chad Meis 4:17.03.
