Esvelt leaves another mark on SPU history

Fifth-year Falcon breaks 5000-meter school record in indoor track season opener

Uriah Aguon, Sports Editor

December 10, 2024

One week ahead of its first team meet, Seattle Pacific University sent fifth-year Annika Esvelt as the sole Falcon to compete in the Sharon Colyer-Danville Season Opener at Boston University on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Esvelt achieved a record-breaking 16:9.93 in the women’s 5000-meter run, bettering the old Seattle Pacific record of 16:12.65 set by Jessica Pixler on Jan. 30, 2009, at the UW Invitational.

Racing in Saturday’s fourth heat, Esvelt climbed near the front of the pack in the fifth lap, holding the fourth-place spot for most of the remaining 20 laps. She moved up as far as second at the 3000-meter mark but finished fourth in her heat and 55th overall among 161 competitors.

Esvelt beat her previous indoor best of 16:29.98 from the 2024 indoor nationals and her overall best of 16:14.31 from the 2022 West Coast Relays outdoor meet.

In addition to creating new personal and school records, Esvelt’s performance qualifies her for the NCAA indoor nationals in March 2025 in Indianapolis.

Seattle Pacific’s track team will compete in the Spokane Invitational at The Podium in Spokane, Washington. Field events start at 9:00 a.m., and track races begin at 10:00 a.m.

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About the Contributor

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.