By Cherie Witt & Alyce Outlaw
The Western girls track team finished runner up at the 3A West Regional Meet on May 27-28. The girls were a mere 7 points behind the winning team, Blacksburg.
The pole vaulters had an outstanding day, taking the top three places with Sarah Tolman in first. Madison Masloff was second and Katrina Barredo was third.
Zoe Clay continued a strong season by finishing second in both the 800 and the 1600 meter events. She also ran the anchor leg in the second place 4×800 team with Faith Reid, Caroline McGahren and Grace Rainey.
Caroline Outlaw won the 300 meter hurdles and set a new school record of 48.08. Faith Reid finished fourth.
The 4×400 team also placed second with Outlaw on the lead-off leg, followed by Reid, Caroline Koester, and Masloff. The 4×100 team of Anna Harris, Outlaw, Nichole Heon and Deborah Ayres-Brown finished fourth and earned a trip to the state meet.
Alyssa Santoro Adajian finished fourth in the 1600 meter and senior Nayiri Krysztofowicz, finished sixth in the 3200 meter. Heon also placed sixth in the long jump.
The boys team had a number of strong performances, starting with Jackson Smith claiming third place in the pole vault.
The 4×800 team of Trevor Stutzman, Jack Ehlenberger, Will Koester and Gannon Willcutts took second place on Friday evening.
Willcutts also won the 800 meter event and was on the sixth place 4×400 team along with Jay Adams, Corey Sims, and Will Koester.
Stuttzman won third place in the 3200 meter and Davis Greene also took third in the 1600 meter.
The teams will compete at the state meet in Harrisonburg June 3-4.