Despite missing five athletes and being forced to adjust their typical lineup, the Ballard women's track team showed grit and resilience at the Gilbert COED Track Invitational, finishing 5th overall with 62 team points.  The team scored in 11 of the 16 events they entered.

Head Coach Barth acknowledged the adversity, saying, "Things did not totally go as we had planned tonight at Gilbert... but I cannot blame us for our effort tonight."

Larson Leads the Way

Senior distance standout Annika Larson provided the highlight of the night, earning the team's lone event victory in the 1500 meters with a time of 5:01.06. Larson pushed the pace throughout and finished strong, just missing her season goal of breaking the five-minute barrier. Coach Barth noted that she'll have another shot at that goal next Monday at Carroll.

Strong Relay Performances

Ballard's 4x800 meter relay team of Ava Richardson, Brynn Wilson, Raya Miller, and Annika Larson grabbed a solid 2nd place finish with a time of 10:36.38. Though they couldn't quite keep pace with a strong Gilbert squad, the group remains confident they can cut time as the season progresses.

The Sprint Medley team of Brooklen Anderson, Taylor Sample, Jada Lande, and Halle Gardner clocked a respectable 2:08.34, landing in 8th place, while the 4x200 relay squad finished 5th in 1:57.95, led by strong legs from Alayna Bowman and Emefa Van Loo.

Van Loo also continued her impressive freshman campaign with a 2nd place finish in the 100 meters (14.03) and a 4th place finish in the 200 meters (29.02). Her sprinting versatility and consistency are becoming key pieces for Ballard's success on the track.

Miller and Richardson Step Up

Raya Miller delivered a breakthrough race in the 400 meters, finishing 2nd with a time of 1:05.88, already approaching her peak times from last season. In the 800 meters, Ava Richardson battled through hip pain to claim 3rd place (2:36.97) and also contributed a strong leg in the 4x800 relay.

Additional Highlights

• Kya Hermann dropped significant time from her previous meet in the 3000 meters, finishing 4th (12:52.39).

• Van Loo and Bowman both ran sub-13 second splits in the 4x100 relay, helping the team to a 5th place finish in 54.89.

• Elin Watson placed 5th in the High Jump (4-04), while Jorgensen grabbed 5th in the 100 Hurdles (17.92).

• In field events, Kahra Lewis took 7th in the Discus (76-05), and Esther Wilson earned 9th in the Shot Put (25-11.50).

Looking Ahead

Despite the lineup challenges, Coach Barth was proud of his team's effort and emphasized the learning opportunities the meet presented.

"Even though the meet did not go as planned, this was a great chance for us to get back on the track, gain experience for a young team, and figure some things out in terms of high-level competition," Barth said.

Ballard looks to rebound and build momentum as they head to their next meet on Monday, April 14 at the Carroll Coed Invitational. 

Photo Credit: Davidson Photography