Complete results (PDF)
 
SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific Falcons had one more chance to run their way into the NCAA Division II national track meet.
 
They did more than put themselves into the meet.
 
The put themselves into position for a chance at All-American.
 
Kate Lilly, Lani Taylor, Chynna Phan, and Mary Charleson raced to the seventh-fastest distance medley relay time in the country on Saturday afternoon, finishing their 4,000 meters in 11 minutes, 39.11 seconds at the Seattle Pacific Final Qualifier meet.
 
While that mark is No. 7 on the official national list, the Falcons could head to Pittsburg State University in Kansas in two weeks possibly seeded as high as No. 6. Walsh University has both the fifth- and sixth-fastest times, but each school is limited to just one relay at NCAAs, so one of those two times will drop off.
 
With other final-qualifier meets taking place around the country throughout the weekend, it's always possible one or two teams could post faster times than the Falcons by the end of Sunday, But at least 12 relays are accepted into the meet, so SPU is in prime position to make it.
 
The official list of entries will be released on Tuesday.
 
"It was four athletes who came to the track to take care of business," Falcons assistant coach Chris Reed said. "They looked really focused, they knew what they needed to do – and they knew they only had one chance.
 
"They all delivered."
 
It was the second time this foursome has made a run at NCAAs. Their first try came on Feb. 9 at the Husky Classic on the same Dempsey Indoor oval. But a dropped baton on that day cost them precious seconds, and while their 11:50.93 was No. 10 nationally at that point, there was no way time would wind up making the cut.
 
Coming into Saturday, the time to beat was in the 11:44 range, and Reed was confident it could happen.
 
"I thought somewhere in the low 11:40s is what it was going to take," he said. "I thought we would do that and feel good about it. I thought under 11:40 was possible, so it was really cool that they did it."
 
Lilly, a sophomore, split 3:36 for opening 1,200-meter leg, precisely what Reed figured she could do. Taylor finished the 400-meter leg in 55.8, breaking through the 56-second barrier, and putting SPU at about 4:32.
 
Then senior Phan came up with an outstanding run in the 800, clocking 2:11. That was three seconds faster than she had run all winter, and left the Falcons at approximately 6:44.
 
That brought it down to senior Charleson on the closing 1,600-meter leg, and anything 4:57 or faster probably would get Seattle Pacific into the national door.
 
She came through in 4:55, and the team burst through that door.
 
What's more, the Falcons got it done racing by themselves. The only other team was from the University of Puget Sound, and that foursome finished in 12:56.
 
Taylor, Phan, and Charleson all ran on last year's All-American eighth-place DMR at nationals. Lilly has taken over the leadoff spot from now-graduated Sarah Macdonald.
 
In addition to the DMR, Scout Cai is pointed toward Pittsburg. As of Saturday night, she is No. 5 in the pentathlon with 3,709 points, and No. 14 in the pole vault at 12-4 ¾.
 
ALSO
-- Freshman Renick Meyer posted the fastest 60-meter hurdles time on Saturday, clocking 8.75.
-- Geneva Lehnert won the high jump at 5-3 ¼.