One for the progress, two for the win, three for the books, four for the legacy and five for the history.
The Seattle Pacific University track and field team competed at the GNAC Indoor Championships at The Podium in Spokane, Washington, on Monday, Feb. 17, and Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Entering with over 20 athletes in 13 events, the Falcons walked off the track with four champions.
Track events:
Fifth-year Annika Esvelt crossed the finish line as a GNAC champion in two events: the women’s one-mile run and the women’s 3000-meter run. Esvelt crossed the finish line in the one-mile at 4:51.18 (a new personal best after her 4:53.32 from the 2022 Ralph Vernacchia Invitational) and 9:43.88 in the 3000-meter.
Junior Maya Ewing finished first place in the women’s 5000-meter run at a new personal best of 17:24.40 (previous was 17:39.65 from Feb. 27, 2024).
Andrew Bell broke his own 60-meter hurdles record yet again. He finished first at 8.10 seconds (previous was 8.13 set on Jan. 31). Bell delivered his last record-breaking performance of the season when he crossed the finish line at 8.01, becoming a GNAC champion.
Junior Hannah Chang retained her No. 1 seed for the women’s 60-meter hurdles finals. She won her preliminary heat in 8.72 seconds on Monday, then on Tuesday, she won the event with a time of 8.60.
Freshman Robert Joshua became the first Falcon man ever to break seven seconds in the 60-meter dash. Joshua finished seventh in Monday’s preliminaries at 6.94 seconds, breaking the old record of 7.00 set by David Njeri on Feb. 11, 2022. He finished seventh in the finals at 6.95.
Junior Isaac Venable finished 10th in the men’s 5000-meter run with a new personal best at 15:28.24 (previous was 15:34.48 from Dec. 9, 2023).
Freshman Justin Brooks was nearly a podium finisher, crossing the finish line in the men’s 400-meter run in fourth place at 48.87.
Field events:
Sophomores Mason Hrceck and Mikel Saxon placed fourth and sixth in the men’s pole vault, clearing 4.20 and 4.05 meters respectively.
Graduate student Lizzy Daughtery finished second in the women’s pole vault at 3.92 meters, breaking the school record of 3.87 meters set by Scout Cai in 2019.
Upcoming:
The Falcons will compete in the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14.
Seattle Pacific’s official entries are yet to be announced.
