FOREST GROVE, Ore. - The Northwest Christian University women's track & field team opened up the 2017 outdoor season with a splash on Saturday, collecting five NAIA automatic bids. Beacons won four different events and, earned 16 spots at the Cascade Conference championships and broke four school records.
 
Two events, the women's 5000m and 3000m Steeplechase featured a 1-2-3 sweep by the Beacons renowned distance program. Senior Shea Vallaire (pictured), who missed the 2016 track season, returned to the oval for the first time in 22 months and picked up right where she left off, winning the 5000m event as she missed the NCU school record by just four seconds.
 
Vallaire's 17 minute, 14.24 second time was more than 38 seconds better than the second-place finisher, Michelle Fletcher (17:52.96). Rosa Schmidt (17:53.99) took third and Melissa Rios (18:26.41) took fifth. All four ladies qualified for the CCC championships while Vallaire also landed an NAIA qualifying time.
 
In the Steeplechase it was Fletcher who stood up winning the event in 10:55.86. She was joined in second-place by Macie Gale (11:15.09) as both ladies earned their return qualifications to NAIA. Freshman Anika Rasubala joined the Steeple team and took third place with an NCU freshman record 12:04.27, landing a CCC spot.
 
Two additional NAIA bids were earned on Saturday in the javelin where reigning CCC champion Bailey Dell won the event with a mark of 46.03m. Madeleine Nelson came in second place (41.72m) and both women easily distanced themselves from the NAIA standard of 40.50m.
 
The women's 4x100m relay team also posted a strong debut. The team of Halona Jackson, Karrin Shriner, Abigail Spencer and Kelly Willyard took a five tenths off the school record (50.46) and won the race by 1.49 seconds.
 
Shriner had a record-setting day of her own in the 100m individual event, breaking the school record with a jaunt of 13.00 seconds.
 
The Pacific Preview was an historic event for NCU as they fielded a competitor for the first time ever in the women's shot put and discus. Redshirt freshman Myah Harter qualified for the CCC championships in both disciplines, establishing NCU bests with an 11.05m shot put and 35.26m discus.  
 
Pacific Preview Complete Results
 
100m: Karrin Shriner (13.00), Halona Jackson (13.21), Abigail Spencer (13.51)
 
200m: Karrin Shriner (26.80), Halona Jackson (27.29), Christy Seaton (28.63), Kelly Willyard (35.67)
 
800m: Molly Gwinn (2:32.37), Emily Moon (2:33.67)
 
1500m: Molly Gwinn (5:01.05)
 
5000m: Shea Vallaire (17:14.24), Michelle Fletcher (17:52.96), Rosa Schmidt (17:53.99), Melissa Rios (18:26.41), Madeleine Rosebrook (21:15.36), Megan O'Neil (21:37.32)
 
3000m Steeplechase: Michelle Fletcher (10:55.86), Macie Gale (11:15.09), Anika Rasubala (12:04.27)
 
100m Hurdles: Christy Seaton (17.04), Abigail Spencer (18.02)
 
4x100m Relay: Halona Jackson, Karrin Shriner, Abigail Spencer, Kelly Willyard (50.46)
 
4x400m Relay: Macie Gale, Molly Gwinn, Anika Rasubala, Emily Moon (4:26.11)
 
Long Jump: Abigail Spencer (4.92m), Hannah Eddens (4.61m), Christy Seaton (4.57m)
 
Triple Jump: Hannah Eddens (10.10m)
 
Shot Put: Myah Harter (11.05m)
 
Discus: Myah Harter (35.26m)
 
Javelin: Bailey Dell (46.03m), Madeleine Nelson (41.72m)