Portland, Oregon- The NNU track and field team traveled to Portland for the Larry Byerly Invitational at Lewis & Clark College. This was the team's last true travel opportunity before GNACs in early May.  Nighthawk underclassmen showed promise with many scoring finishes, season best, and personal best efforts.

Freshman Celia James won the women's 400m (57.89) with senior teammate Makenze Knowles placing sixth with her best mark of the season (1:00.39). Freshman Madison Spriggs contributed points in the women's 200m with a sixth-place finish (26.10) to go with her eighth-place mark in the long jump (5.13m). Freshman Amaya Huggins (28.18) and sophomore Julie Chrisman (27.13) also raced personal bests at 200m. Freshman Hazel Kunkel won the women's 800m (2:12.47) with freshman Madison Ingram (2:22.63) and junior Jordan Gram (2:31.15) racing to season best times.   Freshman Zoey Stauffer finished fifth in the women's 1500m with her personal best time (4:35.30). Gram also raced her personal best 1500m (5:01.51). The team of Knowles, Stauffer, Kunkel, and James finished second in the women's 4x400 (3:57.44).

Sophomore hurdler Maddie Weatherford scored points in multiple events with a fourth-place finish and personal best in the 100mh (15.37) as well a fifth-place finish in the 400mh (1:07.24). Senior sprinter Kayla Baniaga was second at 100m (12.17).  Junior Emma Kwok finished second in the discuss (40.76m) with freshman Mara Kessinger placing fourth with her season best throw (38.97m). Sophomore Georgia Collins finished eighth in the high jump (1.47m). Sophomore Kayley Morrissey set her season best mark in the pole vault (2.68m).

Sophomore Luke Stockett took first in the men's 1500m with a personal best (3:48.04). In the men's hurdles freshman Luke Hanson placed seventh at 110m with his personal best (15.58). In the men's 200m freshmen trio Parker Schulz (22.95), Aidyn Camarillo (23.48), and Tegan Canadian (23.63) each ran personal best times. In the men's 400m sophomore Bryson Paul (49.67) placed fifth. At 800m junior Timothy Bradshaw ran a personal best (1:53.98) and finished second. Freshman Evan Bennett placed third and senior Quincy Ellis placed fifth in the 800m.

Nighthawk steeplechaser Micah Chi placed fourth with his personal best time (9:39.69) and Emmett Stouffer ran his personal best (10:03.65). Junior Becca Darwood finished eighth in the women's steeplechase (11:52.71). In the women's 5000m junior Cameron Moore (17:34.57) finished second and junior Mckenna Lechner (18:04.94) placed fifth. In the men's 10,000m senior Aaron Heberlein placed seventh (32:12.60).

Senior Carter Alberts took fifth in the hammer throw (49.33m). Senior Jonah Groce finished fifth in the high jump (1.87m) and Gerohm Rihari placed sixth (1.87m).

Next week the Nighthawks will compete at the Ed Jacoby Twilight meet hosted by Boise State University at Donna Larsen Park in Boise.