The Ballard women's track team scored 97 team points and placed second in the Van Meter Invitational.  The Bombers finished behind host Van Meter who scored 127 team points.  Chelsea Gadbaw finished second in the shot put with a throw of 30'01".  Ava Vance won the 3000 M run with a season best of 11:56.  Annika Larson won the 1500 M run in a time of 5:06.  Kate Huisinga won the 800 M run finishing in a time of 2:30.46.

The Bombers are back in action on Monday - May 2 when they compete in the Iowa Falls-Alden Invitational.  The meet will start at 5:00 PM.

Comments From Women's Head Coach Scott Barth:

"Chelsea Gadbaw started our night off well with a 2nd place finish in the shot put with a throw of 30-01. Chelsea is new to throwing and learning the intricacies of the throwing events. She is steadily improving and getting points in this event shows positive growth. Also in the field events, MayAna Volk scored her first points of the season in the long jump with a leap of 13-10 which was good enough for 6th place. Again, a newbie to this event, she is in the learning process and expanded her PR by 2 feet at this meet. 

Other highlights of the night were a slew of 1st place finishes in distance events. Ava Vance continued on her recovery from injury to take first in the 3000 meters with a season best time of 11:56. Annika Larson followed-up with a first place finish in the 1500 meters with a personal PR of 5:06, which vaulted her near the state class 3A top 10 in this category at number 11. Kate Huisinga made it a clean sweep of the middle distance/distance open events with a season best time of 2:30.46 for the first place finish.

Kate and Annika teamed up with Mya Ehresman and Ava Richardson in the 4x800 meter relay which took second place in a season best time of 10:39. Ava Richardson followed up a season best leg in the 4x800 with a second place finish in the 400 meters with a time of 1:07.28. 

Katie Tollefson finished second in the 200 meters with a time of 28.21. She was also an integral performer in relays tonight. She teamed up with Ella Husak, Kerrigan Boock, and Noel Boettger in the 3rd place sprint medley relay. She anchored with her 400 split of 1:03.91 which is her season and career best since this is her first season running 400's. She also teamed up with Kate Huisinga, Mya Ehresman and Ava Richardson in the 4x400 for a 3rd place finish and season relay PR  in the event by over 7 seconds for the Bombers.

It was so great having a nice night to run. This has been a tough season with so many cancellations, but we have continued to work hard and that showed tonight at the meet. We scored 97 points with those coming from many athletes on the team. Our athletes  are showing progress and times continue to improve. We hope for another nice meet on Monday as we head to Iowa Falls for the season regular season finale before heading to the really tough RRC meet on Thursday of next week."

TEAM SCORES

1. Van Meter, 127

2. Ballard, 97

3. Central Decatur, 79

4. West Central Valley, 77.50

5. Clarinda, 69

6. Earlham, 67

7. Waukee Northwest JV, 57

8. Martensdale-St. Marys, 56.50

9. Mount Ayr, 49

10. CAM, 39

11. Creston, 22