On Thursday, April 2, Westminster Wildcats track and field hosted a competitive quad meet, welcoming Whitfield School, Principia School, and Jennings High School for an evening of strong performances and senior recognition.
Westminster delivered an impressive showing across both the track and field events, racking up numerous first-place finishes and demonstrating depth in nearly every discipline.
The Wildcats' relay teams set the tone early. The girls 4x800 relay team of Payne, Ikeda, Stierwalt, and Mangan secured a first-place finish, showcasing endurance and teamwork. Sprint relays continued the momentum, with the girls 4x200 team (Groat, Synowiec, Brown, Hines) and the girls 4x100 team (Walker, Henry, Brown, Mason) both taking top honors. The boys 4x100 relay team also added a first-place finish, highlighting Westminster's speed across the board. Closing out the relays, the girls 4x400 team of Ikeda, Payne, Hines, and Mangan capped the night with another victory.
Individually, Westminster athletes dominated distance and sprint events alike. Senior Gabe Lee claimed first in the boys 100-meter dash, while senior Sophia Payne and senior Josiah Bailey each captured victories in the girls and boys 1600-meter runs, respectively. Freshman David Waldron stood out with a strong performance in the boys 3200-meter run, earning first place and signaling a promising future.
In the field events, Westminster continued to shine. Junior Amelia Mangan cleared her way to a first-place finish in the girls pole vault. Senior AJ Kluttz led the throws, winning both the boys shot put and discus. Senior Matt Hays topped the boys high jump, while senior Demetri Crooks secured first in the boys long jump. On the girls side, junior Kyrsten Brown won the long jump, and sophomore Mackenzie Ikeda placed first in the triple jump. Senior Joah Noack rounded out the field victories with a first-place finish in the boys triple jump.
Beyond the competition, the meet also served as a meaningful celebration for Westminster's senior class. Fifteen seniors were recognized for their dedication and contributions to the program, marking an important milestone in their athletic careers.
With dominant performances across relays, distance races, sprints, and field events, Westminster's showing at the quad meet highlighted both their talent and depth—setting a strong tone for the remainder of the season.
