Westmont Track & Field Teams Both Finish 2nd at GSAC Championships

Westmont’s track and field teams came in second place at the GSAC Championships at Thorrington Field. The men finished second behind Arizona Christian and the women were runners-up to William Jessup.

GSAC Freshman of the Year Senzo Sokhela stole the show for the Warriors on Saturday. Sokhela won the men’s 800-meter run and also the 1500, and closed out the day by anchoring the Warriors’ victory in the men’s 4×400 relay.

In the 800 Sokhela won it with a time of 1:53.49, and in the 1500 he completed it in a GSAC-best 3:58.66. In the relay, Dylan Lambert, Jason Peterson, and Jarad Harper got the baton to Sokhela with the race hanging in the balance. Sokhela pulled away from Arizona Christian’s Justin Redmon with a second to spare. The men finished the relay in 3:19.55, while ACU posted a time of 3:20.45. 

“It goes without saying how impressive (Sokhela) has been,” said Smelley. “He’s been competing very well and he was great this weekend.”

Sydney Marr continued her historic career at Westmont on Saturday, as she finished first in the women’s hammer throw with a mark nearly 10 meters further than the second-best. Marr won the event with a throw of 54.10 meters (177-06). Marr also finished third in the women’s shot put.

On the track, the women finished second in both the 4×400 and 4×800 relays, with times of 4:03.94 and 10:02.15, respectively. 

In the women’s 1500 meter run, Madden Hundley and Anneline Breytenbach finished second and third behind The Masters’ Arianna Ghiorso with times of 4:44.53 and 4:47.88 in that order.

Kristen Mohrhoff finished second in the 400 in 59.55, which was a little over a second behind William Jessup’s Rebecca Hardy.

“Kristen really stepped up in the 400 and in the 400 hurdles,” said Smelley. “She was really great then, and in two relays as well. Kristen was probably the athlete of the meet for us.”

The teams get back in action on May 13 when they host the Warrior Invitational across three days. After that, the Warriors will prepare for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala. on May 26.