SALEM, Ore. – Kira Hawaaboo scored 4,495 points on her way to capturing the Northwest Conference women's heptathlon championship Tuesday afternoon at Willamette University's McCulloch Stadium.
 
Competing in only her second heptathlon, the sophomore from Enumclaw, Washington, topped a field of eight competitors to become Linfield's first NWC heptathlon champion since Olivia Bannerot claimed the title in 2016. Her victory followed a memorable Saturday in which she broke a 26-year-old Linfield record in the long jump at the Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational.
 
After completion of the grueling seven-event heptathlon on Tuesday, Wildcats coach Travis Olson praised Hawaaboo, saying "I couldn't be more proud of what Kira has accomplished these past few days. For someone so new to the sport, she handled the grind of the heptathlon like a veteran."
 
On the strength of winning efforts in the long jump and javelin, Hawaaboo surged from fourth place after Day 1 into first place on Day 2. She also won the 200-meter dash on Monday, was third in the high jump and placed sixth in the 100 hurdles and the shot put. Hawaaboo clinched the heptathlon title with a third-place showing in the final event, the 800 run.
 
Hawaaboo's 4,495 cumulative points are the third-highest heptathlon point total in Linfield track and field history. She came within 79 points of breaking the all-time record of 4,573 points set by Bannerot at this same meet in 2016.
 
Additionally, her 4,495 points currently rank fourth among NCAA Division III heptathletes. The top 22 scorers qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, May 23-25, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Invitations will be finalized in mid-May.
 
Her winning result gives Linfield a 10-point head start in the team point standings at the NWC Championships, April 19-20, at George Fox's Stoffer Family Stadium in Newberg.
 
"Kira is a special athlete who still has huge potential," said Olson. "I am excited to watch how she progresses during her career."
 
In the men's decathlon at the same meet, Linfield freshman Durham Huson placed seventh in a field of 11 challengers. He scored 4,876 points with his best results coming in the javelin where he placed third, the 110 hurdles, where he was fourth, and the pole vault, where he was sixth.
 
NEXT
Hawaaboo and Huson return to action on Saturday at the L&C Larry Byerly Invitational. The meet begins at 10 a.m. at Lewis & Clark's Eldon Fix Track.