HUXLEY — The Ballard women's track and field team delivered a complete, team-driven performance Tuesday night, capturing the championship at the Bomber Relays on their home track. The Bombers tallied 136 points to outpace a strong field that included runner-up Waverly-Shell Rock (116) and Roland-Story (99).

Ballard's success was defined by balance across all phases — sprints, distance, hurdles, relays, and field events — a formula that head coach Scott Barth emphasized following the meet.

"It was an absolutely great night on the track and the girls responded with an excellent team effort to get the championship on our home track," Barth said. "We scored points in a variety of events from field to track and we won with our depth and balance."

The Bombers set the tone early in the running events. Sophomore Emefa VanLoo sprinted to a title in the 100-meter dash (12.98), while freshman Kaitlyn Dunn turned in a standout night, placing second in the 200 (27.82) before winning the 400-meter dash in 1:01.88.

Ballard's distance crew also made a major impact. Freshman Avilee Miller led the charge with a dominant double victory, winning the 1500 meters (5:19.73) and the 3000 meters (11:40.86). She was backed by strong supporting finishes, including a third-place effort from Nora Showman in the 1500 and additional scoring in the 800-meter run.

In the hurdles, the Bombers continued to stack points. Brooklyn Shoen claimed the 400-meter hurdles title in 1:10.91 and added a fourth-place finish in the long jump, showcasing versatility. Makiya Culbertson contributed with a third-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles.

Relay events proved to be a key difference-maker for Ballard. The Bombers won the 4x400 relay (4:13.11) and the sprint medley relay (1:56.13), while also adding runner-up finishes in the 4x200 and 4x800 relays. A third-place finish in the distance medley added to the team's scoring depth.

In the field events, Ballard continued to accumulate valuable points. Alea Kinzenbaw cleared 4-10 to place third in the high jump, while Cailey Horner led the shot put group with a fifth-place throw. Kahra Bolton Lewis highlighted the discus with a fifth-place finish, supported by additional top-10 placements from teammates.

The combination of event wins and consistent scoring throughout the lineup allowed Ballard to separate from the field, particularly in the relays and distance races.

"We have made some good progress over the last few weeks, but still need to keep pushing to be competitive in those crucial meets," Barth said.

Ballard faces a quick turnaround, returning to action Monday - April 27 at PCM starting at 4:30 PM.

PHOTO CREDIT: Davidson Photography