Milestones and Momentum: Storm Distance Team Shines at Berney Classic

SALEM, Ore. — The Chemeketa women's distance track team showcased resilience and continued growth this past weekend at the Nancy and Norm Berney Classic, walking away with 14 team points and a new entry in the program's record books.

Against a competitive field, the Storm demonstrated both the tactical discipline and mental toughness that the coaching staff has been emphasizing as the squad prepares for the final stretch of the season.

Record-Breaking Milestone

The highlight of the meet belonged to Gisselle Andrade, who delivered a standout performance in the 800m. Her time of 3:06.38 officially earned her the #20 spot on the Chemeketa All-Time Top 20 list. This milestone is a testament to the hard work put in during training and underscores the rising standard of excellence within the Chemeketa distance program.

Relay Grit and Team Composure

The 4x400m relay squad of Arianna Lezama, Gisselle Andrade, Andrea Maciel, and Sophia Harris faced a unique challenge, as the event was scheduled as the very first race of the meet. Despite the unconventional start time, the quartet gritted out a season-best performance of 4:51.95.

Head Coach Montrail Brooks praised the group's attitude throughout the day: "The team handled the pressure beautifully," Brooks said. "Even when individual results didn't feel perfect, they maintained their composure and a positive attitude. We are looking forward to refining our training and continuing this growth as we head toward the postseason."

Meet Highlights

The Storm athletes pushed their limits across the board, providing several key performances:

• 1500m: Sophia Harris put forth a strong showing with a time of 5:41.39, securing valuable team points.

• 800m: Andrea Maciel clocked a competitive 2:53.78, complementing Andrade's record-breaking run.

• 5000m: Alyssa Collins demonstrated remarkable mental toughness, completing the distance in 27:27.62.

• 400m: Arianna Lezama utilized the meet as an opportunity for speed work, finishing in 1:09.99.

Looking Ahead: The Final Tune-Up

The Storm will now focus their sights on the Linfield Open this Saturday, May 2nd. Running events are set to begin at 11:00 AM (rolling schedule following the 1500m). As the team moves through the final tune-up before the NWAC Southern Regionals, the focus remains on refining race strategy and peaking at the right time.

Come out and support the Storm as they continue their march toward the championships!

#GoStorm | #StormDistance | #Composure | #WorkSmart