Defending undercover champs Pixler & Warman lead SPU & Western to NCAA D2 Indoor Championships...

Seattle Pacific and Western Washington head to this weekend's NCAA Division II indoor track & field championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, led by defending champions Jessica Pixler (left/photo courtesy Seattle Pacific University) and Emily Warman.

Pixler, the defending champion in the mile, is seeded first in her event with a season best of 4:32.88, set at the Husky Classic last month. Senior teammate Jane Larson is seeded third in the mile at 4:48.75, while another senior, Kate Harline is seeded 13th at 4:58.49.

The Falcons' distance medley relay squad of seniors Lisa Anderberg, Larson, Pixler, and juniors Chrystal Sims and Jenifer Pike is seeded second behind Shippensburg of Pennsylvania.

Western Washington's defending sophomore triple jump champion Emily Warman is seeded fifth entering the national championships at 39-11.5/12.18m, and 12th in the long jump at 18-9.75/5.73m.

Junior Sarah Porter is seeded third in the women's 5000 at 16:47.07, while their 4 x 400 meter relay squad of sophomore Ellie Siler, and juniors Megan O'Connell, Michelle Howe and Sarah Brownell are seeded ninth at 3:51.20.

The Vikings' distance medley relay team of senior Courtney Olsen, junior Rachael Johnson, O'Connell & Porter are seeded fifth at 11:47.17.

The Western men's team will have senior miler Anthony Tomsich who is seeded eighth at 4:0746, junior Jordan Welling in the 5000 who is seeded ninth at 14:21.03, and top seeded junior pole vaulter Ryan Brown, who has a best mark of 17-1 3/4 (5.23m).

The complete list of women's accepted entries for the NCAA Division II championships can be accessed here. Accepted men's entries can be accessed here.