Winston-Salem, NC – Southern Wesleyan took seventh in the Conference Carolinas Indoor Track & Field Championship over the weekend. Merritt Smith earned Track Athlete of the Year honors as she took first place in both the 3000 meters and 5000 meters.
Team Finishes
Mount Olive – 230.5
Converse – 109.5
North Greenville – 55
Lees-McRae – 54
Belmont Abbey – 32.5
Francis Marion – 31
Southern Wesleyan – 28
UNC Pembroke – 28
King – 26
Ferrum – 17.5
Emmanuel – 16
Barton – 13
Young Harris – 12
Shorter – 5
Erskine - 4
All-Conference Finishes
Merritt Smith - All-Conference First Team – 3000 Meters
Merritt Smith – All-Conference First Team – 5000 Meters
How It Happened
Track Results
800m | Kristi Gallagher finished in 11th place in the 800 meters with her time of 2:30.67.
Mile | The Warriors were led by freshman Ellie Adams in the women's mile as she took seventh with a time of 5:27.95. Freda Ruiz finished right behind her in ninth place with a time of 5:34.24. Elise Foster took 12th with a time of 5:42.27.
3000m | Senior Merritt Smith led the whole field in the women's 3000 meters with her time of 10:32.14 to earn first place and All-Conference First team honors.
5000m | Merritt Smith continued her impressive performances as she took first place in the 5000 meters with a time of 18:18.27. Her time allowed her to break the previous school record in the event and gave her All-Conference First team honors. Behind her, Elise Foster took 12th with a time of 19:44.28.
Distance Medley Relay | Southern Wesleyan's distance medley relay team of Elise Adams, Claire Walker, Freda Ruiz, and Anna Maddalena took sixth place with a time of 13:27.09.
4x400 Meter Relay | In the 4x400 meter relay, the Warriors' team of Shania Hatton, Claire Walker, Kristi Gallagher and Ella Harned took 12th with a time of 4:34.66.
Field Results
High Jump | In the high jump, Ella Harned finished in tenth place after she cleared a height of 1.46 meters.
Shot Put | Alexandria Luther finished in 18th in the shot put after she threw a distance of 9.73 meters.
Weight Throw | The Warriors were led by Alexandria Luther in the weight throw after she threw a distance of 11.74 meters to earn 18th.
Pentathlon
60mh | In the hurdles portion of the pentathlon, Ella Harned took seventh with her time of 9.96 to earn 720 points.
800m | During the 800 meter run, Ella Harned finished in third place with her time of 2:33.49 to add 650 points to her total.
High Jump | Ella Harned took sixth in the high jump section of the pentathlon as she cleared 1.50 meters to earn 621 points.
Long Jump | In the long jump, Ella Harned earned 371 points after she took eighth with her jump of 4.27 meters.
Shot Put | Ella Harned claimed 465 points in the shot put as her throw of 9.02 meters allowed her to take fifth.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will open up the Outdoor Track & Field season at home as they host the Gotta Run Invite. They will then travel to Montreat, NC to compete in the Montreat College Open on March 20-21. The Warriors will travel to Atlanta, GA on March 27-28 to compete in the Thrills in the Hills.
