The Grinnell Women’s Track and Field team had a banner performance this past weekend, winning the championship title at the Dick Young Invitational in Grinnell on Saturday, April 23 and scoring team points in nearly every event.
This victory was won with a final score of 151 team points, nearly 27 points ahead of the runners-up, North Iowa Area Community College, to the tune of six first place finishes, three second place finishes, three third place finishes, two fourth place finishes, two fifth place finishes, two sixth place finishes, two seventh place finishes and an eighth place finish.
Athena Frasca `23 had a standout performance with a solo 1st place finish in the 400 as well as two more first-place finishes in the 4×100 and 4×400 relays. Five Grinnell runners placed in the 5000, with Emma Schafer `23, Micaela Daney `22, Mira Desmond-Berman `25, Sophia Ford `25 and Ginger Mullen `25 taking first, second, third, seventh and eighth place respectively. Furthermore, three Grinnell women placed in the 1500, with Allison Rabbani `25, Kylie Klassen `25 and Abbie Smith `23 each taking home second, third, and sixth places respectively. This was also a record-breaking weekend for many on the team as well with the Championship 4×100 Squad of Frasca, Sonia Edassery `24, Paige Olowu `22 and Eva Carchidi `24 running the second-fastest time in program history, only half a second off from breaking the all-time program record.
In addition, Allison Rockwell `24 threw a 114-9 in the discus, making her performance the ninth best throw in program history, Sarah Booher `25 had a shotput throw of 35-4 ½ tying the 10th best throw in program history, and Annie Filkin `23’s hammer throw of 98-1 was the ninth best throw in program history. Frasca was very happy with her team’s performance this weekend, attributing he landmark performance from last weekend to a consistent energy from the previous week’s invite, constant improvement in practices from each individual, and a familiarity with the competition environment giving the team the edge of a “home field advantage.”
“I think we are at the point of the season where our training is starting to really pay off and show up in competitions,” she said. “It was also great to compete at home in a familiar place with friendly faces and awesome spectators, which also probably helped.”
But training and location were not the only factors that helped the Women’s team claim the invite title last weekend. According to Frasca, a boost in team morale and attitude has really helped them along in this final stretch of the Women’s Track and Field season, even worthy enough to elicit a personal shoutout from her.
“Honestly, shout out to the whole team for great energy last weekend and going into this upcoming one as well,” said Frasca.
The Grinnell Women’s track and field team is back on the road again this weekend to compete at an invite held at Simpson College where they hope to maintain the same energy and competitive edge from this last weekend. Afterwards, Frasca and the rest of the team look forward to an upcoming invite at Monmouth college, all of which culminates in the Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Conference Invite, which the team is preparing intensely for.
