Redhawks Soar on Senior Day

SEATTLE - Seattle U track and field celebrated its senior day on a very windy, cloudy Friday afternoon at West Seattle Stadium in a dual meet with Seattle Pacific. The Redhawks recognized the nine graduating seniors from this year's squad and four other seniors who were a major part of the program over the last four years. 

The nine graduating seniors are as follow: Andrew Ayers, Kailan Claiborne, Devin Hasty, Kyle Kennedy, Nathan Pixler, Lance Slichko, Megan Delorey, Michaela Moore and Michelle Newblom. Claiborne, Pixler and Newblom all took advantage of their extra year of eligibility by returning for the 2021 season after their 2020 senior season was canceled. The four other seniors Courtney Gelmini, Nicole Golba, Rachel Kastama and Elle Stein were also members of this class, but decided not to participate in this season due to various reasons supported by Seattle U coaches.

The men's team did the best of the two as they won seven events. Freshman Noah Payne earned his first collegiate win in the 100m, while freshman Jay Grant reached the finish line first in the 1500m and sophomore Ansel Pendley-Griffin won his fourth event of the year and second in the 800m. In the track events, Claiborne performed the best in the triple jump and sophomore Lucas Milne took home first in the javelin throw. The Redhawk men performed extremely well in the relay as they won both events. The group of freshman Brant Yamamoto, Tom Topinka, Noah Payne and sophomore Isaiah Payne outran SPU's relay team in the 4x100m, while the 4x400m team of Claiborne, I. Payne, Hasty, and freshman Ryan O'Connor's race came down to the wire as they outlasted SPU by .25.

On the women's side, The Redhawks earned first place in four of the events. Sophomore Regie Grady paced her group in the 400m, while fellow sophomore Chloe Deleissegues posted the highest mark in the high jump and freshman Shannon Sadler earned first place in her first time competing in the triple jump. The women's team wrapped up the evening with a victory in the 4x400m relay as the group of Deleissegues, Grady, sophomore Ellie Postma and freshman Maya McCabe beat SPU's relay team by nine seconds. 

On the day, Seattle U set two new top-10 all time outdoor records as well as four new PRs.

Andrew Ayers - ninth all time steeplechase
Rachel Van Liew - tenth all time 100m hurdles
Chloe Deleissegues - new PRs in the javelin throw and long jump
Jay Grant - new PR in the 1500m
Ashley Hagar - new PR in the long jump

Seattle U's next meet will take it to Clovis, Calif., to compete in the Fresno State Invitational on Apr. 23-24. The hammer throw will start at 3 p.m. on Apr. 23, while the rest of the events will occur on Apr. 24.