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	-