Southwestern Track & Field Opens Season Strong at Soka Invitationall (Women)

Southwestern University's track and field teams made an impressive start to their season at the Soka Invitational, racking up multiple Top-12 finishes against competitive NCAA Division III programs. The Jaguars demonstrated depth and promise across sprints, jumps, throws, and relays in their season opener. 

Women's Team Highlights 

Camilla Mendoza led the way for the Jaguars with a standout all-around performance. Mendoza earned a personal best and a silver medal in the High Jump, clearing 1.60m (5'3"). She also placed 4th in the Long Jump (4.99m/16'4.5") and finished 5th in the 60m dash with a time of 8.19 seconds. 

In the Sprints, Korina Lopez and Analia Martinez delivered solid efforts in the 200 meters, finishing 12th (28.91) and 13th (29.55), respectively. In the 60m hurdles, Serenity Chase finished 8th, demonstrating versatility in the sprint events. 

Distance specialist Nadine Garcia placed 6th in the 800m (2:41.55) and 11th in the mile (5:51.40), showing strong range across events. Natalie Chavarria secured 9th place in the 5000m with a time of 20:07.22, contributing valuable points in the distance events. 

In the field events, Shot Put, Donna Lopez-Landers (7th, 8.88m) and Sophia Norgen (8th, 8.87m) both finished inside the Top 10, adding to the team's depth in field events.