Women’s team finishes strong

SPU track and field collects new records, first wins

Uriah Aguon, Sports Editor

April 23, 2024

Seattle Pacific University senior sprinter Charisma Smith crosses the finish line after the 400 at the Doris Heritage on April 5, 2024, in Renton, Wash. Smith ran a PR in the 200 this past weekend at the CWU invite.

After a long weekend in California, the Seattle Pacific University’s track and field teams traveled to Central Washington University to compete in the Wildcat Invitational on Saturday, April 20.

In the men’s 1500-meter event, junior Ben Sheirbon finished first in his heat and tenth overall at 4:13.53 (personal best is 4:07.66). This win was Sheirbon’s first time finishing an event or heat in the top spot. Claiming second and third behind Sheirbon were sophomores Isaac Venable (4:13.39) and Nathaniel Gale (4:15.09, personal best is 4:11.31).

Senior Kainoa Lee and Freshman Mason Hreck took third and fourth place in the men’s pole vault event. Lee cleared 4.31 meters (outdoor personal best is 4.53 meters) and Hreck cleared 4.11 meters (outdoor personal best is 4.14 meters). Junior Gabe Endressen finished seventh place in the men’s 5000-meter event at 16:27.35 (personal best is 15:51.04).

On the women’s side, multiple runners clocked in new personal and season records. Sophomore Maya Ewing finished first in the women’s 1500-meter run at 4:48.49, achieving a new season-best (her career-best is 4:45.56 from the 2023 season).

Senior Charisma Smith reached a new personal best in the women’s 200-meter dash at 26.48 seconds (previously 26.53 from the Mangrum Invitational on March 22). Freshman Paige Kessler finished with a new personal best of 1.58 meters (previously 1.57 meters from the Mangrum Invitational) in the women’s high jump event.

In the women’s pole vault, seniors Emily Thomason and Lizzy Daugherty landed in second and third place after clearing 3.70 meters. Thomason was given the higher spot due to having fewer misses during her attempts. Her personal best for outdoor competition is 3.77 meters from the 2023 Great Northwest Athletics Conference Outdoor Championships. Daugherty’s outdoor best is 3.82 meters from the PLU Open on March 15.

Sophomore Hannah Chang finished third in the women’s 100-meter hurdles with a new personal best of 14.30 seconds (previously 14.37 at the Point Loma Invitational on March 23). Another personal best came from junior Johanna Brown at 57.31 seconds in the women’s 400-meter dash (previously 57.86 from the PLNU Invitational on March 23). Brown also made her debut in the women’s 100-meter dash event, where she finished first in her heat at 13.04 seconds.

The Falcons’ next competition will be on Saturday, April 27, at the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational at Civic Stadium in Bellingham, Washington. Events will begin at 11:30 a.m. The GNAC Multi-Event Championships will be held the following Monday and Tuesday, April 29 to April 30.

SPU Women’s rowing will compete on Saturday, April 27, in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships. The regatta will be held on Lake Natoma in Gold River, California, and continue on Sunday, April 28.

Seattle Pacific University distance runner junior Ben Sherbon races during the 1500 at the Doris Heritage on April 5, 2024, in Renton Wash. (Rio Giancarlo)

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About the Contributors

Uriah Aguon, Sports Editor

Uriah is a Senior English: Creative Writing major. He has been with the Falcon since his freshman year, starting as a features writer, and is now the sports editor. Uriah hopes to remain on the Falcon staff throughout his time at SPU and continue writing in journalism following graduation.

Rio Giancarlo, Editor-in-Chief

Rio is a senior visual communication major with a minor in journalism. After serving two years as the photo editor Rio was hired as editor-in-chief for his final year with The Falcon. An accomplished photojournalist Rio was accepted into the Eddie Adams XXXVII and does freelance photography for Getty Images, the AP, and other local outlets. In his free time you can find him skiing, or wishing he was skiing.