Launching her way to her first career Northwest Conference Women's Track and Field Student-Athlete of the Week award, Linfield's Olivia McDaniel was recognized by the conference for her extraordinary efforts in the pole vault last weekend at the Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational in McMinnville. The honor was announced Monday afternoon after a vote by the conference's sports information directors.
 
McDaniel cleared 3.67 meters (12 feet, 0½ inches) to win the field event that featured eight competitors from other NWC schools.
 
Balancing the hectic lifestyle of a student-athlete is unique for McDaniel. Linfield's top vaulter is enrolled at Linfield's Portland campus where she is majoring in nursing and trains independently from the team.
 
Asked about the first NWC award of her career, McDaniel was appreciative of the conference and her supporters.
 
"It feels great to be recognized and appreciated for my hard work and success in the sport," said McDaniel. "I would like to thank my coach, Dayson Tiogangco. He has gone out of his way to accommodate my busy nursing school schedule. He has provided me with individual practice times to ensure I get the training I need to be successful this season. I would also like to thank my dad and my boyfriend for making the drive to my meets, sharing hotel rooms and for continuing to be my two biggest fans."
 
The 12-foot mark wasn't nearly the best of McDaniel's career, understandable given the weather conditions in McMinnville last Saturday. Heavy rain and steady wind made it difficult for new personal records to sprout. McDaniel recounted her PR last season that earned her a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships.
 
"I remember being exceptionally nervous but more so excited and humbled for the opportunity to vault alongside some amazing athletes," said McDaniel. "I jumped my current PR of 12-5½ and I knew I had nothing to lose since I was seeded 22nd of 22 competitors in the event. Placing 10th, it was definitely the best vault I'd had."
 
McDaniel's season-best vault at the Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational pegged her fifth in the nation this spring among Division III women's pole vaulters.
 
Next
Linfield joins McDaniel in her neck of the woods in Portland on Saturday when the Wildcats compete at the Lewis & Clark Invitational. The team then gears up for the NWC Championships hosted by Linfield at Maxwell Field April 20-21.