Track and Field Team Turning Heads

Reported By: Sam Erickson

Photographed By: Kelly North

As spring sports begin at George Fox University (GFU), the reigning Northwest Conference championship-winning track and field team is off to a great start in their early meets. This hot start seems to indicate a very successful indoor season, which saw several record-breaking performances and several athletes competing at the national championships.

GFU sent six athletes to the indoor national championships: Ethan Kassebaum took third place in the long jump. Ellie Rising placed third in the 800-meter run with a school record-breaking time of 2:10. James King jumped to fifth place in the high jump. Taylor Phillips came in fifth in the men’s heptathlon and Brecken VadenHoek came in 11th in the pentathlon. 

In an interview with the GFU sports media team, head coach John Smith said “It's safe to say that everyone is hungry for the outdoor season.”  It is clear that this is a team that is capable of putting up impressive finishes week in and week out. 

The team took a top-three finish in their first outdoor meet of the season and is poised to impress in the Rich Allen Classic at Stoffer Family Stadium on March 18. The goals of the team are certainly elevated after the Cross Country team's impressive finish to the end of their season, qualifying for nationals for the first time in school history. The long-distance track team has continued to dominate the competition, with Kayla Aalpoel and other long-distance runners breaking several school records and establishing themselves as legitimate contenders to qualify for nationals. 

The field events are nothing to scoff at either, with the women’s pole vault team frequently sweeping the top seven spots at several indoor meets. Senior Levi Gibson broke his own school record for the men’s pole vault during the men’s indoor season, and he sits at fifth in the outdoor school records as well. 

The track and field team is, as Coach Smith said, hungry for success. Aside from any hunger they may have, they also have the talent and the experience necessary to defend their Northwest Conference title.