Men's Track and Field Friday, February 6, 2026 NWC Athletic Communications

Northwestern Excels at WSC Wildcat Invite

WAYNE, Neb. – Northwestern shone brightly at the WSC Wildcat Invite, with standout performances across several events. Connor Slaba led the charge with a fourth-place finish in the men's 60m finals, clocking in at 6.98 seconds.

Sprints
Slaba was impressive in the 60 meters, finishing fourth in the finals with a time of 6.98 seconds, after securing second in the preliminaries at 6.99 seconds. He also claimed third place in the 200 meters with a time of 22.20 seconds, while James Heinz crossed the line in ninth at 22.62 seconds.

Middle Distance
Grant Palmer took fifth in the 400 meters, clocking 49.16 seconds. Damon Bye and Aziah Ashley followed in seventh and 11th with times of 49.67 and 50.05 respectively. Brady Van Sickle placed fifth in the 600 at 1:24.07, and Dietrich Dirks secured seventh in the 800 with a time of 1:58.60.

Distance
Carson Van Sickle finished second in the 1000 meters, recording a time of 2:29.68, while Ian Van Der Werff took ninth at 2:39.63. In the mile, Quinlan Rundquist claimed third with a time of 4:20.24, and Caleb Tofteland was sixth at 4:23.15. Ashton Hughes finished 13th in the Men's 3K at 9:28.95. In the 5K, Alik McIlravy nabbed fourth at 16:02.88, with Brayden Dirks and Jacob Shaffer coming in eighth and ninth, posting times of 16:31.04 and 16:31.55 respectively.

Hurdles
Josiah McFarland achieved third place in the 60m Hurdles with a time of 8.52 seconds, while Kalarga Mukhtar was close behind in fourth at 8.71 seconds.

Jumps
Drew Geetings tied for fourth in the high jump with a leap of 1.92 meters. Lane Johnson took sixth in the pole vault, clearing 4.10 meters, while Zachary Mayo tied for 11th at 3.80 meters. Michael Rodriguez placed 12th in the long jump with a mark of 6.24 meters, and Jordan Carter secured fourth in the triple jump with 12.70 meters.

Throws
In the shot put, Justin DeHoyos placed eighth with a toss of 14.48 meters, and Daniel Greenlee finished 12th with 13.68 meters. In the weight throw, Justin DeHoyos tied for 13th with a mark of 14.56 meters, and Daniel Greenlee was 18th at 13.95 meters.

PODIUM FINISHES
- 1000 Meters — Kenan Delestre, 2:29.49; Carson Van Sickle, 2:29.68.
- Shot Put — Justin DeHoyos, 14.48 meters; Daniel Greenlee, 13.68 meters.

RESULTS SUMMARY
- 60 Meters— 4th: Connor Slaba, 6.98
- 200 Meters — 3rd: Connor Slaba, 22.20; 9th: James Heinz, 22.62; 17th: Jordan Carter, 23.01
- 400 Meters — 5th: Grant Palmer, 49.16; 7th: Damon Bye, 49.67; 11th: Aziah Ashley, 50.05
- 600 Meters — 5th: Brady Van Sickle, 1:24.07; 14th: Emmett Barber, 1:26.13; 26th: David Poppen, 1:32.41
- 800 Meters — 7th: Dietrich Dirks, 1:58.60; 10th: Payton Van Sickle, 1:59.72
- 1000 Meters — 2nd: Carson Van Sickle, 2:29.68; 9th: Ian Van Der Werff, 2:39.63
- Mile — 3rd: Quinlan Rundquist, 4:20.24; 6th: Caleb Tofteland, 4:23.15; 18th: Parker Engel, 4:30.82
- 3000 Meters — 2nd: Caleb Tofteland, 8:50.40; 5th: Ben VanDeBerg, 8:59.23; 13th: Ashton Hughes, 9:28.95
- 5000 Meters — 4th: Alik McIlravy, 16:02.88; 8th: Brayden Dirks, 16:31.04; 9th: Jacob Shaffer, 16:31.55
- 60 Hurdles Finals — 3rd: Josiah McFarland, 8.52; 4th: Kalarga Mukhtar, 8.71
- 4 x 400 Relay — 7th: Dirks, Poppen, Kumla, Van Der Werff, 3:32.52; 8th: Mukhtar, B. Van Sickle, P. Van Sickle, Barber, 3:34.39

Up Next: Select Raiders will compete at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational tomorrow.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut

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Players Mentioned

Aziah Ashley: 6' 0"; Senior

Jordan Carter: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Justin DeHoyos: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Brayden Dirks: 6' 1"; Senior

Parker Engel: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Drew Geetings: 6' 5"; Senior

James Heinz: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Ashton Hughes: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Lane Johnson: 5' 11"; Junior

Alik McIlravy: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Aziah Ashley
: 6' 0"; Senior

Jordan Carter
: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Justin DeHoyos
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Brayden Dirks
: 6' 1"; Senior

Parker Engel
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Drew Geetings
: 6' 5"; Senior

James Heinz
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Ashton Hughes
: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Lane Johnson
: 5' 11"; Junior

Alik McIlravy
: 6' 0"; Sophomore