Whits all-sports winner

The Northwest Conference title won by the Whitworth men’s golf team was not only a first for the school, but it clinched the first McIlroy-Lewis NWC All-Sports Trophy for the Pirates

Whitworth, which shared first with Willamette in the fall, took sole possession of the top spot after the winter to become the first school to lead the standings wire to wire since Pacific Lutheran in 1997-98.

Whitworth finished first with 246 points, followed by Willamette (232) and Puget Sound (230).

“Winning this award is a testament to the collective quality of our teams,” said athletic director Scott McQuilkin. “When one considers the quality of athletics programs throughout the Northwest Conference, this recognition is particularly gratifying for our students and staff.”

Whitworth won NWC titles in men’s soccer, men’s swimming and men’s golf, had five teams finish second and four finish third.

Only three other schools have won the trophy in its 20-year history. PLU won 15 of the first 17 years. Linfield was the two-time defending champion and also won in 2001. Willamette won once, in 1994.

Track and field

Setting a record in the process, Community Colleges of Spokane sophomore Molly Burt grabbed the first-day lead in the heptathlon at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges all-events championships at Spokane Falls CC.

Burt, who was second in the event a year ago while leading CCS to the conference women’s title, broke the NWAACC heptathlon 100-meter hurdles record with a 14.55-second burst in the day’s first event.

She also won the shot put and 200 to go with a third in the high jump behind winning teammate Teona Perkins, in compiling 2,945 points and a 352-point margin over Perkins.

In the men’s decathlon, Ricky Moody of Highline has a 266-point lead on teammate Brynnen McIver, 3,813-3,547, after the first five events.

CCS’ John Kragt is seventh with 3,098 points.

Both events conclude today.