GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah women's track and field team opened the 2021 season with a dominant victory on Starry Outdoor Track, earning 296.5 team points, more than doubling second-place York (Pa.) (118.5). Messiah will travel to York (Pa.) on Apr 1. for its next competition.
In The Results
Sophomore
Esther Seeland led the way for the Falcons, turning in first-place finishes in the 800m (2:13.01) and the 1500m (4:53.89). Seeland also served as the third leg of the winning 4x400m relay team that also included
Cassidy Chandler,
Ellie Longshaw, and
Ellissa Slader, finishing with a winning time of 4:11.73. The 4x400m proved to be a sweep for the Falcons, as Messiah placed second (
Ashlyn Stonge,
Madison Myers,
Emma Johnsen,
Olivia Cory) with a time of 4:25.46, as well as taking third (
Laura Kruth,
Brieanna Hess,
Amber Fogelsanger,
Kathleen Walstrom) in 4:30.64. Messiah also had success in the 4x100m relay, as a team of
Kathryn Wiederrecht,
Elena Vargas, Longshaw, and Slader topped all competition with a winning time of 50.67.
A trio of Falcons placed top-three in the final event of the afternoon, the 10,000m.
Cera Gaston (38:27.21) placed first, with
Joy Galbraith (40:49.16) and
Kate Prothero (41:02.60) following their teammate leader. Gaston's winning effort placed seventh all-time in Messiah history for the women's 10,000m run. Also representing Messiah in the concluding event was
Ellie Quesenberry, recording a time of 46:27.46. The 5,000m featured a Falcon reaching the finish line first, as
Marianne Fitzkee crossed with a time of 20:36.87.
Like the 10,000m, the 400m hurdles had three Falcons place in the top-three.
Kathryn Wiederrecht placed first (73.37), edging out teammate
Brieanna Hess (74.11). Placing third was
Claire Miller in her first day of collegiate track competition, finishing in 75.23. Miller turned in a solid performance in the 100m meter hurdles, earning a second-place finish with a time of 17.18.
Emily Gourley led Messiah's efforts in the high jump, turning in a winning height of 1.44m, edging out second-place Rachel Panek (1.42m) of Stevenson.
Elena Vargas placed second in the long jump, leaping 4.85m, just shy of the first-place mark (4.97m).
Messiah was well-represented in the pole vault, as
Bayley Hess cleared 2.90m, earning herself a second-place finish.
Justine Eckert represented the Falcons in the discus, recording a distance of 29.73m. The sophomore thrower turned in a solid performance in the Shot Put as well (7.98m).
Lila Goodhile placed second of twelve throwers in the Shot Put, earning a distance of 10.46m. Goodhile fell just shy of the winning distance, a 10.62m effort from Lebanon Valley's Ashley Bartels.
What's Up Next
As mentioned, Messiah will be back in action on Apr. 1 at the York College of Pennsylvania. Following that event, the Falcons will return to Grantham for the Messiah Multi and Invitational.
