Westmont Track and Field kicked off the indoor season on Saturday afternoon by hosting the Westmont Sunshine Indoor Open.
Azusa Pacific, Biola, Concordia, Vanguard, Fresno Pacific and California Baptist all competed in the event.
“It was a nice start to the season – perfect weather, good and friendly competition and a great facility,” said Westmont head coach Russell Smelley.
Westmont’s Amanda Chevalier, competing in the first section of the women’s 60 meter dash, set a new school record for the event of 7.97 seconds. However, she was only able to claim the record for a few minutes. In the next heat, freshman Elysia Hodges beat her time by 0.01 seconds to claim the school record for herself. Hodges and Chevalier finished second and third, respectively, behind Azusa Pacific’s Anita Fung (7.89 seconds).
In the 200 meter, Chevalier finished second with a time of 25.67. Fresno Pacific’s Brandy Hurd (25.59 seconds).
In the mile race, Westmont’s Amber Collier (5:29.10) and Melissa McGregor finished (5:40.56) first and second.
Earning an automatic qualification to the NAIA Indoor National Championship in early March was the Women’s Distance Medley Relay, posting a mark of 12:17.65. The team consisted of Elysia Hodges, Corinee Cherne, Heidi Nicholls and Kate Stuart.
“I was excited for the Women’s Distance Medley relay,” said Smelly. “Elysia ran very fast at 56.5 (400 meters) and Kate had a 5:02 anchor (1600 meters) to get the team qualified.
“Renee Gingeresky had a very nice performance and had a personal best in the discus,” noted Smelley.
Gingeresky finished third with a throw of 29.59.
In the men’s events, freshman Shane Rowan, a San Marcos High grad, posted an automatic qualification mark of 14.71 meters in the triple jump, qualifying him for a position in the NAIA national indoor championship.
“I’m very excited about Shane and fellow freshman Christian Hatchet who ran really well in the 400 to make a provisional time,” said Smelley.
Hatchet’s time of 49.11 earned him a second place finish and was just 0.36 seconds off an automatic qualification time.
“It was very fun to see David Donner race well and win the 1000 meters,” noted Smelley. “He is a very good competitor and has a great game day performance and a great head for racing.”
Donner’s time of 2:37.48 was 0.18 seconds ahead of that posted by second place finisher Austin Barr of Vanguard.
“I’m very excited about Benjamin McCollum and Kyle Kemper doing a nice job in their first heptathlon,” said Smelley.
McCollum tallied 3,864 points while Kemper racked up 3,289.
Westmont’s men’s distance medley relay team finished second in a time of 10:20.64, good enough for a provisional mark and just 0.44 seconds off an automatic qualification. The men finished in fourth place at last year’s indoor national championship. Today’s race was run by Matt Shiney, Adam Thompkins, Garrison Gourdeau and Evan Bradford.
Next weekend, the Warriors head to Azusa to participate in the Azusa Pacific Indoor Multi-Event and Qualifier. The multi-events begin at 10:30 on Friday with the rest of the meet beginning at the same time on Saturday.
