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SPOKANE, Wash. - Brandon Howell out-kicked a field of NCAA Division I runners to win the 800 meters on Friday night at the 35th annual Pelluer Invitational, hosted by Eastern Washington University at Woodward Field in Cheney.

Howell ran a season best 1:53.42 to beat several runners from EWU, Montana and Idaho in the race. He has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division III championships and his time is the second fastest in the Northwest Conference this season.

Howell also ran a leg on the Whitworth 4x400 relay that posted a season-best time of 3:22.02, the second-fastest time in the NWC this season.

Because of the quality of depth and talent in the meet, it is harder to spot strong performances by the Pirates, but they were there. Ben Spaun posted season bests in both the 110 high hurdles (15.52) and 400 hurdles (55.7h), which rank him second and third, respectively, in the NWC.

Jon Pasma posted a season best and qualified for the NWC championships in the 800 (1:58.82), while Stefan Robinson added a lifetime best and qualified for the conference championships in the steeplechase (10:16.31).

The Whitworth women got a great javelin throw from Angela Florence (126'-8"). The mark was her lifetime best and is within two feet of a provision NCAA qualifying mark. Emily Green ran a lifetime best time in the 1,500 (5:01.04) and also qualified for the NWC meet in the 800 (2:27.29). Andrea Carnahan had a season best in the 800 (2:25.21) as well.

While a couple of athletes will be competing at the NWC Multi-Event Championships this Monday and Tuesday at Linfield College, the majority of the team will compete at the inaugural Sam Adams Classic next Saturday at Whitworth. The name of the meet honors Hall-of-Fame track and football coach Sam Adams. The meet is the final opportunity for the Pirates to qualify for the NWC Championships, which will take place April 21-22 in Salem, Oregon.