LA GRANDE, Ore. – Northwest Nazarene track & field opened their 2025-26 indoor season with a trip up I-84 to compete in the Beat the Freeze Up Invite at Eastern Oregon on Saturday.
 
With a bevy of new faces and many strong returners competing, the Nighthawks registered 10 new program top-10s among multiple PRs.
 
Senior Carter Alberts started his final campaign well, recording a 16.51m toss in the weight throw that moves him up to seventh all-time at NNU. He took second in the event on Saturday, and paired that with a fifth-place finish in the shot put.
 
In his first collegiate meet, Jacob Allen blistered through the 60m prelims with a time of 7.03 seconds, fourth in program history. He then ran a 7.04 in the final to place third at the event. Allen also won the 200m with a time of 23.31 seconds.
 
NNU also had a pair of freshmen excel in the long and triple jumps. Quincy Malacas led the way by winning both events at the meet, reaching 6.70m in the long jump (sixth in NNU history) and 13.78m in the triple (fourth in NNU history). Tavius Peters was not far behind, going 6.64m in the long jump (T-7^th at NNU) and 13.12m in the triple (8^th at NNU).
 
Alex Shields grabbed the final indoor PR on the men's side, clearing a height of 1.92m that is now eighth in program history. He took third in the event, with teammate Jonah Groce taking the win with a clearance of 1.95m.
 
Bryson Paul also won an event at EOU, clocking in at 52.36 seconds to take the 400m.
 
Maddie Spriggs had a fantastic debut for the NNU women, hitting program top ten marks in two events, the 60m (8.02s, T-7^th at NNU) and the long jump (5.28m, eighth at NNU).
 
Fellow first-year Macie Kern registered the last top ten mark of the day, clearing 3.25m in the pole vault to tie for 10^th in program history.
 
Kayla Baniaga was strong in the sprints, winning the 200m and taking third in the 60m. Celia James won the 400m for the Nighthawks, while Emma Kwok took home top honors in the weight throw.
 
NNU will now enjoy the holiday break before returning to action on January 16-17 at the Spokane Indoor Challenge.