SOUTH BEND, Ind. ---The Bethel Women's Track Team opened up their 2025-26 Season at the Loftus Sports Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame on Friday.
Sophia Sumer (1st, 3.8m) and
Gabrielle Zeilenga (3rd, 3.8m) each surpassed the NAIA "A" Standard of 3.65m in the Pole Vault event, with Sumer recording a personal record.
Zeilenga continued to shine in the long jump (5.47m), placing ninth out of 23 athletes and clinching a victory over Notre Dame's Ashley Fisher (10th, 5.44m).
In the 60m,
Nicanta Smith (20th, 7.92s) finished in the top half of the competition (53 runners), while
Luisana Alonso (36th, 8.16s) recorded a new personal best.
Smith also showcased a Top 15 Finish in the 200m, racing a 26.71 time to beat out multiple NCAA Division 1 athletes from Northern Illinois, Marquette, Valpo, and Detroit Mercy. In the same event,
Lauren Edison posted a 31.03 time for a new personal record.
Alyssa Sloop found success in the 60m Hurdles (26th, 9.84), posting a new PR.
Sydney Rice placed in the top fifty percent of the field (7th out of 15) with an 11.61m finish in the shotput event.
Assistant Coach Andre Moodie shared, "It was a great first meet...NAIA national qualifiers and several NCCAA qualifiers, as a coaching staff we are very proud of the efforts today."
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