Newberg, Ore.– The 2026 Northwest Conference Men's and Women's decathlon and heptathlon were hosted at George Fox University on April 13th and 14th. With a strong opening NWC Multis Championship, George Fox freshman Makaylah Johnson took home the championship title in the heptathlon with a grand total of 4,586 points. For the men, senior Caleb Smith earned his championship title in the decathlon in an exciting finish on day two, earning a total of 6,852 points.
Women's Heptathlon
Makaylah Johnson started off strong on the first day of competition, winning the 100-meter hurdles (14.54) and claiming second in both the high jump (1.60m) and the shot put (9.85m). In the 200-meter dash, Johnson took third in a time of 26.62 to end the day in first place. On day two, Johnson continued her lead by completing a 5.34 meter jump in the long jump to place first. In the remaining two events, the freshman placed fourth in the 800 meter (2:38.29) and 8th in the javelin (27.85m).
Whitworth's Emily Brown followed close behind overall scoring– placing second in the women's heptathlon after a competitive final day. The junior placed first in both the shot put (PB, 10.01m) and in the 200 meter dash (25.84). On day two she also claimed another pair of first place finishes; throwing 34.17m in the javelin and running a top time in the 800 meter (2:20.03). Brown also placed fourth in the long jump (5.02m) and 7th in the 100m hurdles.
Erica Snyder of Willamette took home the remaining first place finish in the women's heptathlon, completing a 1.63 meter high jump.
Men's Decathlon
George Fox senior Caleb Smith came out strong on day one, claiming first in the high jump (1.88m), and in the 400 meter (49.24). He placed second in the long jump with a jump of 6.79 meters, third in the 100m dash (11.14), and fifth in the shot put (11.08m) to finish in second place overall on the first day. Smith put up two first place finishes on the final day to put himself in champion position. He threw 38.15m in the discus to come first, and completed 4.25m in the pole vault. Smith placed third in the 110m hurdles (15.96) and third in the 1500 (5:12.22) to complete his championship run.
Steeley Mucken of Willamette battled Smith for the Championship, but fell just short on day two. Mucken placed first in the 100m (10.86), the long jump (6.94m), and the shot put (13.52m) on the first day, while also claiming second in the high jump and fourth in the 400m (54.65). On day two, Mucken placed second in the 110m hurdles (15.56), the discus (36.18m), and the pole vault (4.15m). The junior battled back into first place by winning the javelin (53.91m) but slid back into second after the 1500 meter race.
Other first place finishes included Blake Smith of George Fox running a top time of 14.92 in the 110m hurdles, and Willamette's Myles Crandell in the 1500m (4:36.44)..