Graceland Women’s Track Shines at Grand View Invitational
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Graceland University women's outdoor track and field team put together a strong collective performance at the Grand View Invitational on Saturday, hosted at Duke Williams Stadium.
Competing against a mix of NAIA and regional teams, the Yellowjackets showcased depth across both sprint and distance events, as well as in the technical field disciplines. Head coach Quinton Harley emphasized tactical racing and technical execution, a focus that paid dividends throughout the meet.
In the sprints, junior Ambar Fulgencio led the way for Graceland with a fifth-place finish in the 100 meters, clocking 12.94 seconds (+1.6 m/s wind). Sophomore Deniyah Lockman added a 13.85 effort (+2.5) in the same event, finishing 12th overall. Junior Grace Testerman also competed, timing 14.34 (+2.3).
In hurdle events, Fulgencio once again produced a high-caliber mark, securing runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.99 seconds (+1.3). Sophomore Amelia Nyambuka followed in third at 15.92 (+1.0), and senior Jacey Lewis crossed fifth in 16.51 (+1.0), both securing top-five finishes in Section 2. Coach Harley praised the group's technical focus over the barriers.
In field competition, Lockman displayed her athleticism in the jumps, earning third place in the long jump with a leap of 4.61 meters (15' 1.5") under legal wind conditions. Lockman also placed second in the triple jump with a best mark of 10.22 meters (33' 6.5"). The Yellowjackets were active across multiple phases, underscoring their versatility.
On the track in mid-distance, freshman Hallee Chamberlin broke through to claim the 800-meter title, finishing in 2 minutes, 42.29 seconds. Sophomore Thayadorra Echavarria delivered a strong performance as well, earning second with a time of 2:45.01.
Distance events also proved fruitful for the Yellowjackets. Freshman Cameron Sharp clocked 5:51.81 in the 1500 meters, securing 13th place. Freshman Sierra Davenport crossed in 6:17.49, while sophomore Lidya Haile posted a 6:23.50 result, and freshman Anna Sweeting finished in 6:55.90.
Senior Mickenzie Fisher highlighted the distance group by claiming the 5000-meter title in 20:47.57, finishing nearly 20 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. Freshman Ella Gerlach placed fifth with a time of 23:00.43.
In the relays, Graceland's 4x400-meter relay team of Nyambuka, Fulgencio, Testerman and Lewis captured third overall in 4:29.30. Coach Harley noted the importance of solid baton exchanges and sustained effort across the legs.
"We are starting to see our technical preparation and race models pay off," said head coach Quinton Harley. "Today was a strong checkpoint for the season. The group executed across multiple disciplines, and we are pleased with how we competed against a quality field. Now, the focus turns to tightening some technical aspects and sharpening race strategies before our next outing."
The Yellowjackets earned team points across sprints, hurdles, distance, and relays, demonstrating balanced team scoring. Multiple personal bests were set in sprint sections, while the jumps unit showed strong form with multi-phase coverage in both long and triple jump competitions.
The Graceland University women's track and field team will return to action next Friday and Saturday, March 28–29, at the Central Methodist Invitational, hosted in Fayette, Missouri, at CMU's Davis Field.
For more information on Graceland indoor and outdoor track and field, and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.