NEWBERG, Ore. – Linfield University's Kira Hawaaboo broke the Northwest Conference record in the women's long jump on her way to claiming an individual championship, and Jacob Slifka captured his third consecutive title in the men's discus, topping the Wildcats' first-day performances Friday at the Northwest Conference Track and Field Championships.
 
The meet, featuring all nine NWC programs, is being staged at George Fox University's Stoffer Family Stadium.
 
Hawaaboo soared 19 feet, 6¾ inches to claim the title, twice recording that distance on her fifth and sixth attempts. The mark broke her own school record of 18-9¾, set two weeks ago at the NWC Multi-Event Championships. It also set both the Northwest Conference championship-meet record and all-time NWC women's long jump record.
 
Hawaaboo's record-setting result stands as the longest recorded in NCAA Division III this spring and all but assures the sophomore an invitation to next month's NCAA Outdoor Championships in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
 
Slifka hurled the discus 163-3 to win the event by over seven feet. He topped a field of 12 other challengers. Slifka also placed fourth in the hammer throw with a mark of 142-10, surpassing his previous career best of 141-5.
 
After eight events, the Linfield men sit in fifth place with 17 points. The Wildcat women stand seventh with 21 points.
 
Action continues Saturday starting at 10:30 a.m.