Historic Surge: Chemeketa Advances Largest Contingent to NWAC Finals Since 2019 Program Restart

SOUTHHAMPTON, Wash. — The Chemeketa Storm wrapped up the postseason track and field schedule with a historic showing at the NWAC Championships, fighting through a highly competitive field and putting down a masterclass in determination.

Coming off a massive transition year, this weekend wasn't just about individual accolades—it was a milestone marker for the entire program. By sending five individual entries to the big stage, this squad marked the largest individual contingent Chemeketa has advanced to the NWAC Championships since the program's official restart in 2019.

Sprints Set the Tone

The championships kicked off with the preliminary rounds of the Women's 400m. Arianna Lezama and Fernanda Robles both lined up in the first heat, ready to let it fly. Both athletes left everything on the track, executing their race models beautifully to lock in their best marks of the weekend.

While they just missed the cut for the final round, they put the rest of the conference on notice:

• Arianna Lezama clocked a stellar season-best (SB) of 1:08.70.

• Fernanda Robles wasn't far behind, crossing the line in a lifetime personal record (PR) of 1:09.81.

The 800m Crew Delivers a Masterclass

Next up was the Women's 800m, and it turned out to be the race of the day for the Storm. In a brilliant display of component pacing and pure willpower, all three Chemeketa entries clocked lifetime personal bests in the exact same heat.

The trio stayed diligent through the bell lap, battling all the way to the line and just missing a spot in the finals:

• Sophia Harris led the charge, dropping a massive PR of 2:41.20.

• Alyssa Collins fought hard all the way through the tape, stopping the clock at a personal-best 2:44.20.

• Andrea Maciel Rodriguez rounded out the perfect sweep of PRs, crossing right on their heels in a lifetime best of 2:44.45.

NWAC Championship Results

The Coach's Take: "Grace and Grind" in Action

"I am incredibly impressed with the sheer determination, heart, and willpower this group possessed today," said Head Coach Monti Brooks. "We knew coming into this year that we were navigating a significant transition phase for the program. To see these ladies stay disciplined, trust the training, and peak at the absolute right moment to drop season bests and lifetime PRs across the board is exactly what the 'Grace and Grind' mentality is all about."

"More importantly, taking this many individual qualifiers to the NWAC Championships—the most since our 2019 restart—proves that the culture we are building here is working. The standard has been raised."

Looking Ahead

With the track season officially in the books, the foundation has been firmly laid. The Storm are already looking forward to building massive momentum from the upcoming cross country season right back into next year's track cycle.

The future is bright, and the work for next season's triumph starts now.

Photo Credit: The Athlete Studio     Instagram: @TheAthlete_Studio

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