SPOKANE, Wash. - The goals for the Whitworth track and field teams under head coach Toby Schwarz have always been the same.

"The goals for both teams are to win the conference championship this season," said Schwarz, who marks his 10th season as the head track and field coach at Whitworth in 2006.

"This may be the best women's team we've had in my ten years," said Schwarz, including the conference title team of 2001. "We have depth and talent in every event."

Thirty nine women will compete for the Pirates this spring. That group will be led by several outstanding athletes with aspirations of making the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Sarah Marken (Sr., Casper, Wyo.) has been Whitworth's leading scorer at the NWC Championships each of the last two seasons. She will compete in the heptathlon, as well as sprints, jumps and relays. She could score in as many as eight different events. Kristi Dickey (Sr., Kennewick, Wash.) is Whitworth's only returning individual conference champion. She won the 10,000 meters and finished second in the 5,000 meters last year. A healthy Kristen Dormaier (So., Hartline, Wash.) is a threat to win in both the 100/200 dashes, as well as the triple jump. Dacia Murillo (Sr., Yakima, Wash.) will challenge in both the discus and shot put, while Angela Florence (Jr., Yucaipa, Calif.) will be a strong factor in the javelin.

Several newcomers could also make an immediate impact. Jenna Hays (So., Bonners Ferry, Idaho) could pole vault in the 10 to 11 foot range. Kelli Christianson (Fr., Ferndale, Wash.) can toss the javelin in the 125 to 130 foot range. Gigi Jones (Fr., Bow, Wash.), Sophie Merwick (Fr., Bothell, Wash.) and Stephanie Wipf (Fr., Gilbert, Ariz.) will give the Pirates solid depth in the sprints and one relays.

The Pirate men, with 50 athletes, is very talented in many events, but not as deep across the board as the women.

"We will be looking for some of our guys to step up in those events so we don't have to rely solely on our deeper events," said Schwarz.

Brandon Howell (So., Clarkston, Wash.), Whitworth's only individual national qualifier last season, returns to aim for even bigger things in the 800 and 400 this year. Derrick Dewindt (Sr., Anchorage, Alaska) just missed national qualifying in the hammer throw and will make a strong run this spring. Ben Spaun (So., Wenatchee, Wash.) is a conference championship contender in the hurdles. Jeff Grassley (Jr., Flowermound, Texas) leads a deep group of distance runners.

Cody Moore (Jr., Pullman, Wash.) will be a huge addition for the Pirates. He was the NWAACC champion in the 100 dash last season for the Community Colleges of Spokane and is a former state champion at Pullman High School.

Whitworth also benefits from the addition of Gary Baskett to the coaching staff, who coached the legendary Mead High School boys teams of the late 1980's and 90's that won 159 dual meets in a row and five state team titles.

"With the changes in the coaching staff and the strong leadership within our team, I believe we can take both the men and the women up a notch," said Schwarz.