Event Wins Fuel Bomber’s Third-Place Finish
Ballard Score 94 Team Points
The Ballard Bombers women's track and field team delivered a strong, well-rounded performance Thursday night at the Ogden Invitational, finishing third overall with 94 team points in a competitive field.
Despite competing without a full lineup, Ballard leaned on its depth and versatility to stay in contention throughout the meet. The Bombers recorded two event titles and a number of top-three finishes, showcasing their ability to compete across multiple disciplines.
Leading the way was the Sprint Medley Relay team of Lily Gustafson, Makiya Culbertson, Emefa Van Loo, and Alea Kinzenbaw, which captured first place with a winning time of 1:58.01. Individually, Culbertson also claimed gold in the 100-meter hurdles, setting a new personal record of 16.36 in a decisive victory.
Ballard added several runner-up finishes, highlighted by Kinzenbaw, who cleared 4-10 in the high jump to place second. Van Loo turned in a strong night on the track, earning second-place finishes in both the 100 meters (13.20) and 200 meters (27.72). Raya Miller also contributed key points, placing second in the 400 meters (1:05.28) and third in the 800 meters (2:38.68).
The Bombers' relay units continued to shine, with the 4x200 team of Gustafson, Allison Kuhn, Hailey Conover, and Taylor Larsen finishing second in 1:56.97, while the 4x400 relay team of Avilee Miller, Kamry Cowell, Kya Hermann, and Kuhn closed the meet with a third-place finish in 4:38.98.
In the distance events, Sydney Sage placed third in the 3000 meters with a time of 12:50.14, adding to the team's balanced scoring effort. Ballard also saw encouraging performances in the field events, particularly from its throwing group, which continues to show steady improvement.
A notable highlight came from Kuhn, who stepped into new roles for the team. In just her second high jump competition, she cleared 4-08 to place fourth, and later delivered a strong split in the 4x400 relay—an example of the adaptability that helped fuel Ballard's success.
With a mix of experienced leaders and emerging young talent, the Bombers proved they can remain highly competitive even while shorthanded. That depth will be a key factor as the season progresses.
Ballard will return to action on Tuesday, April 21, when they host the Bomber Relays beginning at 4:30 PM.
