Carroll, IA – On a brisk and blustery Monday night, the Ballard women's girls track and field team made the most of their road trip west, earning a hard-fought second-place finish at the Carroll Invite.  Competing against schools they don't often see, the Bombers tallied 84 points, finishing just behind Perry (92) in a tightly contested 11-team meet.

"It was a brisk night on the track at Carroll," said head coach Scott Barth. "But it is a good meet for us as it gets us out of central Iowa and running against some different competition from the western side of the state. Overall, we did some good things and battled through the winds. We missed out on some points due to missing five athletes and a couple technical mistakes in relays, but the girls really competed."

The meet opened on a high note with Brynn Wilson running her first-ever 3000 meters and earning a first-place finish in 11:48.10. "She ran in tandem with another runner before outkicking her at the end for a solid win," said Barth.

Annika Larson followed with Ballard's other first-place finish, taking control of the 1500 meters and cruising to victory in a composed and dominant effort despite the wind.

Ballard's success continued with a slew of second-place finishes, which helped them rack up team points. The 4x800 relay team of Raya Miller, Kaylor Johnson, Nora Showman, and Ava Richardson earned silver with a gutsy effort (11:21.91). Miller also placed second individually in the 400 meters (1:06.70), continuing her strong season.

Emefa Van Loo placed second in the 100 meters (13.35), extending her impressive streak of top finishes. Ava Richardson, coming off a minor injury, ran a strong 2:35.39 to take second in the 800 meters. In the 100 meter hurdles, Anya Jorgensen delivered another consistent performance, also finishing second (17.50).

The distance medley relay team of Grace Grundmeyer, Olivia Wacha, Jael Newman, and Annika Larson added another silver to the team total, finishing in 4:44.63.

Coach Barth was also encouraged by a number of breakout and improving performances across the roster:

• Caily Horner and Thea Taylor turned in strong throws in the shot and discus, making a case for future varsity opportunities.

• Kya Hermann contributed in both the 3000 and 1500, continuing to score as her times trend downward.

• Sydney Sage broke the 7-minute barrier in the 1500, setting a new personal best.

• Taylor Larsen is on the cusp of scoring in both the 100 and 200 meters.

• Freshman Mikiya Culbertson continues to shine in the 100 hurdles, placing 5th in another solid outing.

Despite setbacks—including a dropped baton in the 4x200 relay and a false start in the 4x100—Ballard's ability to remain in contention was a testament to their depth and competitive spirit.

The Bombers are back in action next week as they host the Bomber Relays on Tuesday, April 22, starting at 4:30 PM. With momentum and depth on their side, Coach Barth's squad is shaping up to be a force as the season heats up.

Photo Credit: Davidson Photography