Spokane, Wash.– The stage is set at Whitworth University as the 2026 Northwest Conference Track & Field Championships get underway on April 25-26. With all nine institutions competing, George Fox will look to defend its titles on both the men’s and women’s sides. The Championships will kick off Saturday morning at 10:00 AM with the women’s 10:00 AM at Boppell Track in Spokane, Washington.
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MEN
George Fox
George Fox leads the men’s title chase, bolstered by a head start from the decathlon, where Caleb Smith claimed victory and teammate Blake Smith earned a third place finish.
Caleb Smith also leads the conference in the men’s high jump– posting a 1.98m top-seeded jump. Blake Smith holds the No. 1 seed in the 110m hurdles (14.74), making him a favorite to win the event.
George Fox freshman Carson Tapia enters his first Northwest Conference Championship as the top seed in both the 100m dash (10.52) and the 200m dash (21.34). In field events, fellow Bruin freshman Joshua Taylor posts the farthest shot put in the conference (15.81m) and junior Luke Nelson is the favorite to win the pole vault (4.70m).
Whitworth
The Whitworth Pirates look to make an impact on their home grounds this year, currently ranking 24th in the nation by NCAA DIII Men's Outdoor Track & Field National TFRI and placing second in the NWC Coaches’ Preseason poll.
The Pirates hold all of the Northwest Conference’s top times in the distance events; Jack Ireton in the 1500m (3:53.57) and 3,000m Steeple (9:10.50) and London Haley in both the 5,000m (14:42.82) and the 10,000m (30:57.53).
In the throws, Adam Sessions (hammer, 57.51m), Eddie Vu (discus, 52.81m), and Cody Wheeler (javelin, 66.15m) all return to the NWC Championships as the top seeds in their respective events.
The Pirates are also the favorites in the 4x100 (Austin May, Brayden Oletzke, Camden Schmidt, and Jayce Palm) and 4x400 relays (Brayden Oletzke, Carter Sherry, Camden Schmidt, and Cooper Rolfs), showcasing their depth.
Willamette
Coming in fourth in the NWC Coaches’ Preseason Poll were the Willamette Bearcats, who have two athletes holding the top seeded positions in the NWC. Junior Myles Crandall posts a 54.55 in the 400m hurdles, while teammate Niko White holds the farthest long jump effort in 7.09 meters. The Willamette men have 15 top-five seeds across various events.
Puget Sound
The Puget Sound Loggers are led by junior Avery Keith, who is the sole top-seeded athlete on the men’s side in the 400m (47.60). Keith is also seeded in second for the 100m (10.84), the 200m (21.65), and with the Loggers 4x400 relay. Other top contenders include freshman Brayden Decker in the high jump (1.93m) who ranks second in the NWC, and Cian Monaghan who ranks fourth in the 10k (31:19.17).
Lewis & Clark
Lewis & Clark looks to make an impact at the NWC Championships, with Keegan Zaso headlining as the number one seed in the triple jump (14.16m). The River Otters distance squad look to compete for medalist positions in the 1500m and the 5,000m races– Quinn Higgins running a NWC second-seeded time of 3:55.00 in the 1500m and third seeded time in the 5k (14:52.22), while teammate Evan Markelz holds second (14:51.15).
Pacific (Ore.)
The Pacific Boxers are led by senior Henry Tierney who ranks first in the men’s 800m (1:54.00), and fourth in the 1500m (3:56.55). Sophomore Mikell Adler also looks to make an impact at the NWC Championships, ranking fourth in the 110m hurdles with a time of 15.16. In the field, freshman Noel Gutierrez will make his championship debut ranking third in the discus (46.03m).
Linfield
Liam Christensen leads the Linfield Wildcats, seeded in top-five positions in both the 100m (third, 10.85) and the 200m (fourth, 22.03). Also looking to looking to break into medalist position is fourth-ranked freshman Kiyan Vrell (javelin, 58.54m), sophomore Dakota Brannan
(pole vault, 4.39m), and freshman Hudson Holzhauer (hammer, 53.11m).
Pacific Lutheran
The Pacific Lutheran men are strong in the field, holding three top-five seeds– Seth Kramer holds the second seed in the long jump (7.03m), Kevin Hanis holds fourth in the high jump (1.92m), and Micah Ragaza-Bourassa holds fifth in the hammer (51.43m).
Whitman
The Whitman Blues bring their distance team to the NWC Championships, and are led by Alex Burns in the 10k (31:49.42) and Jack McManus in the 5k (14:57.33). The Blues also look to compete in the 4x400m relay, posting a time of 3:40.66.
WOMEN
George Fox
The George Fox women are also looking to defend their NWC Team Championship title, and are in the lead after a thrilling heptathlon performance by freshman Makaylah Johnson. Teammate Jenna Huntsman followed close behind, placing third in the women’s heptathlon. Johnson is the top George Fox seed and second overall for the women’s 100m hurdles (14.43) and the long jump (5.59m).
Junior Bruin Chloe Cook leads the NWC in several distance events, including the 1500m (4:45.48) and the 5,000m (17:32.95), while ranking second the 10k (37:53.58). Hope Bridge looks to make an impact in the distance races as well, posting top-five times in the 800m, the 1500m, the 5k, and the 10k.
In field events, sophomore Candice Mugo-Wainaina ranks second in the NWC for the discus (41.95m), fourth in the shot put (12.84), and fourth in the hammer (47.17m). In the second seed for the hammer is teammate Evan Roberts (50.78m). In the jumps, freshman Janice Hellesto posts the top-seeded long jump (5.76m), while fellow freshman teammate Madison Wu ranks fourth in the high jump (1.60m).
Whitworth
The Whitworth Pirates enter the field as a top competitor for the NWC Championship Team title, with 25 top-five seeds across various events and ranking 13th in the nation by NCAA DIII Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National TFRI.
Junior Kezlie Thygesen ranks as the top seed in the 10k race (37:19.72) and the second seed in the 5k (17:49.04).
They also post the fastest time in the 4x100m relay (Macayla Mills, Emily Brown, Bella Tolen, and Akeelis Muhammed, 48.15) and the third fastest time in the 4x400m relay (Marlee Paget, Kiera Smith, Isa Higgins, and Hope Madill, 4:07.22).
The Pirate women dominate in the field events, filling the top three seeds in the shot put– Amblessed Okemgbo, 14.14m; Madison Carr, 13.96m; and Kylie Loveless, 13.57m. Okemgbo also ranks first in the discus (47.81m), while teammates Devyn Chelin (40.35m) and Kylie Loveless (38.60m) rank first and second in the javelin. Carr takes the top-seed in the hammer, throwing an impressive distance of 53.52m. In the triple jump, Whitworth also ranks first with Shaloma McCay’s jump of 11.39m.
Pacific (Ore.)
The Pacific Boxer Women ranked third in the NWC Coaches’ Preseason Poll, and will look to make a strong appearance at the NWC Championships. Leading the Boxers is Allyson Hammond, who placed 5th at the NCAA Division III 2025 Outdoor Championships in the 100m hurdles– claiming All-American Honors. Hammond looks to defend her 100m hurdles title, ranking first with a time of 13.60. Hammond also ranks first in the NWC for the 400m hurdles (1:03.65), the 200m dash (24.64), and second in the 100m dash (12.27) and 400m (56.37).
In the distance events, freshman Ali Heinly ranks first in the 3,000 steeple (11:16.46), while teammate Ria Gill represents the Boxers in the 10k race, ranking third with a time of 38:03.83. In field events, freshman Cadence Schedlbauer posts a third ranked pole vault effort of 3.53m.
Pacific Lutheran
The Lutes enter the 2026 championships with young talent; freshman Soukhanya Waters running the third fastest 100m time (12.35), freshman Heather Johnson ranking 6th in the 400m (59.63) and 400m hurdles (1:05.52), and Kiana Neir tied for first in the pole vault (3.58m). First year Kira Marshall ranks third in the triple jump (11.05m), while junior Abigail Caprye ranks third in the high jump (1.62m).
Puget Sound
The Puget Sound Loggers have several strong returners looking to make an impact at the NWC Championships, including Kyrstin Wilson who holds the top seed in the fastest race of the meet (100m, 11.82). Wilson also ranks second in the 200m (24.74), while teammate Elizabeth Beiswanger returns as the top seed in the 400m (56.32). Both Wilson and Beiswanger compete for the second ranked 4x400 Loggers squad, alongside Alana Lim and Dylan Moore (4:01.74). Fellow teammate Emily Moore currently sits as the second seed and looks to make in impact in the 3,000m steeple (11:22.12).
Lewis & Clark
The River Otters are headlined by their top ranked 4x400 relay team, consisting of Elsie Chin, Miriam Reside, Callow Soto, and Malia Heien (3:58.38). Chin also ranks 5th in the conference for the 400m (59.31) and third in the 400m hurdles (1:04.14). Heien is a top competitor in the mid-distance events, ranking first in the 800m (2:13.91) and second in the 1500m (4:45.61).
In field events, junior Rose Dinh holds the fourth farthest effort in the long jump (5.36m), while Lillian Besa holds a top-ten position in the discus (36.79m).
Linfield
The Linfield women are headlined by top-seeded freshman Sage Cramp in the pole vault, posting an effort of 3.58m. Other freshman making an impact for the Wildcats include Baylie Thompson in the long jump (third, 5.46m), Haley Bland in the javelin (third, 38.28m), Savannah Filios in the discus (fifth, 38.09) and shot put (fifth, 12.24m), and Isabella Grutsch in the 400m hurdles (fourth 14.80) and triple jump (sixth, 10.87m).
Willamette
The Willamette Women were ranked fourth in the NWC Coaches’ Preseason Poll, and bring 11 athletes in top-five seeds across various events. Top-seeded Bearcats include Erica Snyder in the high jump (1.65m), followed by second-seeded Whitley Stepp (1.63m). Willamette’s 4x100m relay team consisting of Lavender Bel, Mashani Coleman, Ella Thompson, and Wendy Brannon put together a second-seeded time of 48.54. In the triple jump, Amanda Mcarthur ranks second in the conference (11.20m), while teammate Anastasiia Lemesh holds the fourth fastest time in the 3,000mm steeple (11:45.53). In the sprints, the Bearcats are led by Lavender Bel, who ranks fourth in the 100m (12.39), third in the 200m (25.49), fifth in the 100m hurdles & 400m hurdles. Teammate Mashani Coleman ranks third in the 100m hurdles (14.74) and fourth in the 400m hurdles (1:04.26).
Whitman
The Whitman women look to make an impact in the distance events, with senior Payton Davies posting a top ten time in the NWC in the 10k (40:10.85), as well as the top seed for Whitman in the 5k (18:56.99). Teammates Emme Rousseau and Lily Kamila post the next fastest times in both the 5k and 10k races.