Linfield College is serving as host of the 2018 Northwest Conference Track and Field Championships. The two-day, eight-school competition runs Friday and Saturday, April 20-21, at Linfield's Maxwell Field. Action starts Friday at 12:30 p.m. and continues Saturday beginning at 9 a.m.
 
This year's championship meet is filled with many national-caliber student athletes. Eight All-Americans and nine other competitors who competed at the 2017 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships are competing this weekend. A total of 63 NWC student-athletes hold marks that rank among the top 25 in NCAA Division III this spring. George Fox is the defending men's and women's team champion. Whitworth was runner-up on both sides last year.
 
Here's an overview of each of the competing teams heading into this weekend's event:

 

WOMEN
George Fox, ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division III, has a strong corps of sprinters. The Bruins' 4x100-meter relay and 4x400 relay squads each rank third nationally. The Bruins are led by All-America hurdler Sarah King. Nationally ranked Sara Turner and freshman Kennedy Taube should also help the Bruins score big points in the sprints. 2018 NWC heptathlon champion and 2017 NCAA runner-up Annie Wright is expected to score points in a number of individual events. Sophomore Stacy Kozlowski owns the eighth-best high jump mark in Division III. Dakota Buhler is also nationally ranked in the triple jump and long jump.
 
Whitworth All-American Kayla Leland leads the No. 5-ranked Pirates in the distance events and fellow senior Sarah Martinez is a potent competitor in the sprints and hurdles. Kayla Brase is currently ranked 11th in the triple jump while Chloe Quinnett is rated among the top 25 in the shot put. Look for heptathlete Isabel Clark to score points in several individual events.

 

Linfield is paced by nationally ranked distance runners Kaelia Neal and Emma Knudson. The Wildcats should also gain valuable points in the pole vault, led by NWC leader Olivia McDaniel. Sophomore Dana Brooks is also ranked nationally in the javelin. Madeline Shirley is a threat in the high jump, long jump, 100 dash and relays, and Mehana Sabado-Halpern should generate points in the long and triple jump.
 
Pacific Lutheran is counting on Machaela Graddy and Vakeaemanu Hunkin in the javelin. Freshmen Bailey Forsyth could factor in the sprints along with Lauren Wilson and Kelsey Hathaway in the jumps.
 
Willamette is bolstered by Hope Duenas, who is ranked fifth in the nation in the discus and second in the conference in the hammer. Senior Jewell Sparks should provide points in the sprints and hurdles, and Hannah Swanson is capable of doing damage in the distance events.
 
Pacific has NWC hammer leader Dianna Church. Fellow Boxer throwers Karen Du and Megan Wesel should also score points. Brynn Close is not to be overlooked in the pole vault.
 
Lewis & Clark features distance runners Kori Groenveld and Amelia Jackson together with pole vaulter Sam Seagren.
 
Puget Sound is relying on distance runners Alison Wise and Sam Schaffer to bring home conference points.
 
MEN
George Fox returns defending national champion Seth Nonnenmacher in the javelin along with 2017 high jump runner-up Jacoby Wolfe. Returning discus All-American Caleb Dalzell anchors the Bruins' throwing events. Nationally ranked Vernon Lott and Chris Polk are strong contenders in the sprints. Christian Parr and Jack Ammon should pick up points in the distances with NWC Decathlon champion Alex Canchola participating in a cross section of individual events. The Bruins lead the nation in the 4x100 relay and boast the 10th-fastest time in the 4x400 relay.
 
Pacific Lutheran features nationally ranked Carson Ketter in the sprints along with senior Garrett Hittner. Brad Hodkinson is rated nationally in the 1,500 as is Kyle Rapacz in the distances. PLU's 4x100 relay ranks 10th in Division III.
 
Whitworth is looking to John-Robert Wooley, nationally ranked in the 400 hurdles, to score big in both hurdles races. Returning All-American Andrew Bloom holds the nation's best javelin mark. Come Nzibarega, Grant Bingham and Daniel Harper are contenders in the distances.

Willamette relies on Keaton Beckmann in the jumps and sprints as well as Michael Montague and Keith Carlson in the distances. Saige Swan and Josh Martin should factor in the throwing events.

 

Lewis & Clark's hopes rest largely on the efforts of distance runners Jeff Mullins, Blake Slattengren, Sean Richardson and Miguel Haro-Ruiz. Keep an eye on Noah Avery in the jumps along with Mathew Weston in the sprints.
 
Pacific comes with nationally ranked Kolby Nikolaisen, the NWC leader in the pole vault. Jason Draper and Brian King rank 1-3 in the conference in the hammer. Keegan Jones is solid in the jumps along with Garrett Price and Chris Butcher in the sprints.
 
Linfield is fueled by a pair of seniors in Jeff Lee in the distance events and Jeff Lieder in the throws. Freshman decathlete Keaton Wood, ranked nationally in the javelin, should also produce points in several events. Look for Taylor Vicknair to contend in the hurdles and Ryne Fuhrmark to lend support in the throws.
 
Puget Sound is led by high hurdler Matt Wells, the NWC leader. Jumpers A.J. Johnson and Kai Moya, join distance runner Isaac Fournier in leading the Loggers' efforts.