A trio of Linfield student-athletes will represent Linfield University this week at the 2023 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Rochester, New York. The meet is being staged at Polisseni Track and Field Complex on the campus of St. John Fisher University.
 
Graduate student Matt Metcalf, junior Jacob Slifka and sophomore Zach Young are scheduled to compete Thursday in their respective events. They are among 23 Northwest Conference competitors who qualified for the national meet.
 
Wildcats coach Travis Olson believes all three are positioned well and are capable of achieving peak performances against top-flight competition.
 
"I'm really excited to see what our guys can accomplish," said Olson. "Each of them are great individual competitors. I feel like they all have a very good shot of performing well and finishing the season as All-Americans."
 
Metcalf and Young will each compete in the men's javelin. Metcalf, a 2021 All-American from Eugene, Oregon, is ranked 12th in Division III with a mark of 62.05 meters. Young is close behind, ranking 16th with a season-best mark of 61.59.
 
"Matt is the veteran of our nationals crew," said Olson. "It's a deep javelin field this year, but Matt is a seasoned competitor who can certainly get out there and challenge for All-America honors."
 
Olson considers Young to be a wild card entry. The sophomore from Monroe, Oregon, sat out all of his freshman season while recovering from a serious knee injury.
 
"Zach is really just learning to throw the javelin correctly. The javelin is an event where guys can add quite a bit of distance if they end up putting it all together. I believe Zach will surprise some people if he focuses on the technical aspects of his throws together with the physical effort."
 
Slifka, a two-time NWC champion from Banks, Oregon, enters the NCAA Championships ranking 20th in the men's discus with a season-best mark of 50.38.
 
"As far as talent goes, Jacob has all the tools to place among the top eight finishers," said Olson. "As long as you show up and perform well, it's entirely possible to put yourself in a position to be an All-American. It's within his reach."
 
All three Wildcats are also members of the Linfield football team that went 10-1 this past fall and advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs.