The Clark College Penguins men's and women's track and field program had one of the best seasons in school history in 2025, after both team's earned trophies with second (women) and third (men) place finishes at the NWAC Championships. On top of team success, the program had 11 athletes win event championships, 40 named All-Americans, and 68 athletes earn All-Conference honors. Several of that team's top athletes return in 2026. That group, partnered with a great recruiting class, will put this year's team's right back in the thick of things this year. Penguin head coach Chrisitan Igielinski was unsurprisingly very excited about this year's team. "I can't wait to see this team in action this spring," Igielinski began. "We have great athletes in every event group, a coaching staff that I really believe in, and everything in place to contend in this conference once again." Without further ado, lets meet this year's team.

Aside from his head coaching duties, Igielinski is also the program's hurdles coach. And, Igielinski has done an amazing job of putting together a group that will once again be among the best in the conference. The 2026 hurdlers will look to build off of their successes from last season when the group earned six All-American honors and six top-10 times in Clark history. The Penguin men's hurdlers are led by Koynn Williamdyke and Max Ensinger, who both had spectacular freshman seasons. Williamdyke is looking to solidify his legacy at Clark by improving his school record in the 400h from last year and win another NWAC championship. Ensinger hopes to prove that he is the best dual hurdle threat in the conference. He already owns top-10 all time performances in both hurdle events and plans on climbing up the leader board even higher. Freshman Poki'i Waiwaiole redshirted last year but showed unattached that he can compete alongside Ensinger. Don't be surprised if Niel Valerio pushes his older counterparts as well. Though the women's side is smaller in numbers, both 400m hurdlers will be fighting for top places at the Championship meet. Sophomore Nico Field is coming off a strong freshman track season where she was All-Conference in four events, including the 400h. Her cross country experience from the fall should help her in the gritty 400h event. Expect to see Britney Ketels shine as a freshman this season. She qualified for State in the 300h in high school and should adjust well to the extra distance.

Clark Track and Field's women's sprints group was a powerhouse last season under third year coach Matt Scholer, with six women sprinting under 13 seconds in the 100m event. Emily Peabody is returning this season to reclaim her crown as the fastest 200m sprinter in the NWAC. She will also look to take over the 100m title as well, after breaking the Clark College record in the event last season. Mallory Davenport was a key member of the 4X100m relay, but will shift her focus to the 400m and 4x400m, where she expects to compete at the NWAC Championships. New to the group this season are Abby Mendoza and Myah Manzano. Both athletes are fast and versatile enough to compete in every sprint event. They will both be training hard to earn their spot in the NWAC Championships individually and as a part of the relays.  Coach Matt knows this group has the potential to break several school records, especially both women's relays. On the men's side, Clark had the fastest men's 100m sprinter in all of the NWAC last season. This season, the Penguins should have at least four men sprinting sub 11 and sub 22 seconds.  Chris Garnett is the fastest returning sprinter from last season and is motivated to get back to championships to place even higher. Julian Johnson will also join him as one of the fastest sprinters in the conference. Ian Ebinger and Brandon Marin-Hardy will look to compete for first place in the men's 4x400  and break the school record. One of Clark's hardest workers and a team leader, Toby Smoot continues to improve his times from last season and compete for a spot on the 4x100m team.  Key newcomers to the event this season are freshman Jordan Morales and Justin Noyons, who both will push the sophomores for a place on the relays. Filing out the sprints team are newcomers Jaeden Freitas and Seth Arnett, who are great additions to the team and will provide depth and help where needed. 

The Penguins had men's throwers for the first time last season and they didn't disappoint. Nico Valdez finished third in the discus last season and will be a threat to score more points after picking up the hammer.  Wyatt Galipeau is the Penguin's best opportunity to score in one of the deepest events in the NWAC, the shotput, after qualifying last year. Javelin thrower Luke Livengood will be an impact freshman for Clark. One of the top athletes in Washington for the event as a senior last year, Livengood will push for points right away. For the women, Sophia Martin qualified for the championships in the javelin last season and should move up the rankings this year. Lucille Ware earned an auto qualifying mark to the championships in the discus last season and has improved enough to compete for points this year. The top incoming thrower for Clark is Ella Lulich. Lulich qualified for State in high school in the shot put and discus where she finished 13th and 7th respectively overall. She was the Mid Valley League Champion in the discus with a personal best throw of 121'11". As a senior, Lulich improved to top ten at State in the shot put with a new personal best 35' 4.5" and rose to sixth at State in the discus.

New jumps coach Michaela Ephraim, a former Clark jumps All-American, should bring a major lift to the program coaching staff and jump athletes. The women's top returner in Breyelle Box, who excelled in the long, triple, and high jump last season. Box was top ten at the NWAC Championships in all three events.  April Cruz was also strong in both the long and triple last year, with her 34'2" triple jump mark ranking sixth in the conference. One new Penguin to know is Jaden Frazier. A dynamic athlete, Frazier has mostly high jump experience, but possesses the explosiveness that make her good in multiple events. Freshman Nora Herinckx was one of the top high jumpers in Washington the past two years and should score this season. Watch for freshman Tori Yetter to star as well in all jumping events. Yetter and Herinckx will also take their shot at the heptathlon as well. The two will lean on the experience of returning heptathlon champion Mia Hicks-Oliver, who was outstanding for the Penguins last season. Hicks-Oliver set a school record and was top ten all-time in several events in 2025. If fully healthy, Hicks-Oliver will expect to repeat as heptathlon champion, as well as the high point award. The men will not have any multi athletes again this year, but the jumps do have a star in Taeven Hill.  Hill was a threat to win both the long and triple jump titles last year before a late season injury kept him out of the championships. Freshman Drayden Starke-Shaffer and redshirt freshman Rashad Crosdale give Clark two additional top-level jumpers. Include Valerio in the high jump, and the Penguin men will be expecting major points from this event group.

Lastly, one of the strengths of the team will be the distance runners. On the men's side, freshman Dekota Houfek is coming off a great cross country season where he earned Second Team All-Region honors. Tate Armstrong, Erik Hardy, and Evan Hollis also had great falls and were among the team's top five. Watch for Clivine Abuya in the 800 meters. After trying out cross country for the first time, Abuya will make the move from sprints to middle distance and has impressed the coaches so far.  The steeplechase is one event that has been a highligh of Penguin distance in the past. Both Benjamin Carter and Hayden Davis qualified for the NWAC Championships in the event last year and should be a force again this season. Jackson Fortin and Carson Vann both joined track after not competing in cross country, which adds a little potential for surprise in the group. Though the women's distance group is small, Nayeli Vergara and Mariposa Perez will be the top threats in the 5K and 10K distances. Pearl Tomulty will excel in the middle distance after running times fast enough to score in previous years during her high school career.

The Penguins open the season March 6 ^th and 7^th at Linfield University. The South Region Championships will be hosted by Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. Clark will conclude their season in May at Mt. Hood Community College for the NWAC Championships.