MT BERRY, Ga. - Piedmont men's and women's track & field opened its 2026 outdoor season at Berry College for the Victor Ice Breaker Duals.
The Lions kicked off outdoor season right with several top-10 finishes and new personal bests set. This meet was a heavy field event crew that did not disappoint in performance especially from senior George Ketch. Ketch made his outdoor debut in the hammer throw, placing third in the event and setting the school record with a mark of 49.26m.
Continuing the men's field side, Jayden Smith led the Lions placing eighth in shot put and following him were Walter Burks and Jacob Baker who set new personal bests. In the men's triple jump, Franklin Brown Jr. set a new personal best while also placing sixth overall.
For the women's field side, Shealee Gallegos led the Lions in the javelin, discus and hammer throw, placing seventh in javelin, sixth in discus and tenth in hammer throw. Freshman, Endiya Burton set a new personal best in the shot put with a mark of 9.12m.
On the distance side, Brody Geckler and Bella Caccamo both delivered new personal bests in outdoor. Geckler set his new outdoor personal best in the 5000m with a time of 16:53.35. Caccamo competed in the 1500m, placing fifth overall with a new personal best time of 5:06.45.
The 400m women had a great day as all three finished with new personal bests. Michelle Cates led the Lions with a time of 1:03.23 and placing fifth overall for her new outdoor best. Katie Payne and Ja'Nia Gray also delivered new personal bests, Payne with a 1:09.97 and Gray 1:11.46.
For the 200m, both men and women set new bests. For the women, Allison Cantrell with a time of 27.35 and Anna Freeman 31.26. For the men, Xander Wiley with a time of 24.87.
Up next, the Lions will set off to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for their Spring Break to compete in the Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge March 13-14.
Field Events- bold denotes school record
| Men's Javelin Throw |
Kerrigan McClain- 23.86m |
| Women's Javelin Throw |
Shealee Gallegos – 20.97m 7th
Anna Belle King – 20.20m 8th
Ja'Nia Gray – 18.62m 9th |
| Women's Shot Put |
Kayla Ward – 10.55m 9th
Endiya Burton – 9.12m |
| Men's Shot Put |
Jayden Smith – 12.87m 8th
Walter Burks – 11.86m
Jacob Baker – 11.33m |
| Women's Long Jump |
Allison Cantrell – 4.93m 8th
Sara Bjerke – 4.50m |
| Men's Long Jump |
Bryant Murray – 6.70m 7th |
| Men's Pole Vault |
- |
| Women's Pole Vault |
- |
| Women's Discus Throw |
Shealee Gallegos – 31.86m 6th
Kayla Ward – 30.40m 10th
Endiya Burton – 28.41m |
| Men's Discus Throw |
Matthew Blocksom – 39.33m 9th |
| Men's Hammer Throw |
George Ketch – 49.26m 3rd
Matthew Blocksom – 37.16m
Kerrigan McClain – 31.10m |
| Women's Hammer Throw |
Shealee Gallegos – 33.14m 10th
Kayla Ward – 31.25m
Anna Belle King – 25.44m |
| Women's High Jump |
Sara Bjerke - 1.31m 10th
Bella Caccamo - 1.31m |
| Men's High Jump |
Bryant Murray - 1.76m 8th
Franklin Brown Jr. – 1.66m |
| Women's Triple Jump |
- |
| Men's Triple Jump |
Franklin Brown Jr. – 13.33m 6th |
Track Events- bold denotes school record
| Women's 10000m |
- |
| Men's 10000m |
- |
| Women's 5000m |
- |
| Men's 5000m |
Brody Geckler – 16:53.35 |
| Women's 4x 100m relay |
- |
| Men's 4x 100m relay |
- |
| Women's 1500m |
Bella Caccamo – 5:06.45 5th |
| Men's 1500m |
- |
| Women's 100m Hurdles |
Brooke Benna – 18.30
Anna Freeman – 20.33 |
| Mens 110m Hurdles |
- |
| Women's 400m |
Michelle Cates – 1:03.23 5th
Katie Payne – 1:09.97
Ja'Nia Gray – 1:11.46 |
| Men's 400m |
Tyler Brown – 51.72 |
| Women's 100m |
- |
| Men's 100m |
- |
| Women's 800m |
Naomi Oti-Wapala – 2:50.32
Brianna Tucci – 2:51.28 |
| Men's 800m |
Shaqir Riggins – 2:20.84
Xander Wiley – 2:21.74 |
| Women's 400m Hurdles |
- |
| Men's 400m Hurdles |
- |
| Women's 200m |
Allison Cantrell – 27.35
Sara Bjerke – 30.60
Anna Freeman – 31.26
Brooke Benna – 31.91 |
| Men's 200m |
Xander Wiley – 24.87 |
| Women's 3000m Steeplechase |
- |
| Men's 3000m Steeplechase |
- |
| Women's 4x 400m relay |
Tucci, Payne, Gray, Caccamo – 4:40.17 |
| Men's 4x 400m relay |
- |