St. George, UT -
The Westminster Griffins opened the 2026 track & field season in dominant fashion at the Utah Tech Invitational, delivering a historic and record-setting performance that immediately established momentum for the year ahead.
Griffins Set School Record in 4x100m Relay
Highlighting the meet was a record-breaking performance in the men's 4x100-meter relay. The team of Dario Sanchez, Zac LeVin, Zeke Kearney, and Jeremy Alba sprinted to a time of 42.6, setting a new Westminster school record. The mark surpasses the previous record of 42.81 set in 2016 and reflects the depth and cohesion of a sprint unit that appears poised for a standout season. Westminster's sprint corps wasted no time making an impact on the program's all-time lists. Jeremy Alba led the way in the 100 meters, moving to No. 2 all-time with a time of 11.06, while Johanna Mapson posted a 12.94 to rank No. 3 in the women's 100 meters. In the 200 meters, Zac LeVin delivered one of the top performances of the meet, running 22.49 to claim the No. 2 spot in program history. He was joined by teammates Orion Patten (No. 4, 22.70) and Zeke Kearney (No. 5, 22.86), while Alba also added a top-10 mark, tying for No. 10. On the women's side, Mapson continued her strong showing with a No. 5 all-time performance of 26.58.
Strong Performances Across the Track
The 400-meter group added to the Griffins' success, with Dario Garcia Sanchez running 49.71 to move into No. 5 all-time. Teammates Sebastian Moon (No. 6, 50.62), Zeke Kearney (No. 7, 50.67), and Orion Patten (No. 9, 51.09) also earned top-10 marks, showcasing impressive depth in the event. In middle-distance competition, Eileen O'Connor recorded two top-10 performances, ranking No. 7 all-time in the 800 meters (2:20.57) and No. 5 in the 1500 meters (4:52.2). Colin Morgan also entered the record book in the men's 800 meters, placing No. 10 all-time with a time of 1:59.92.
Haneberg Headlines Women's Field Events
A standout performance on the women's side came from Kanoe Haneberg, who delivered a historic showing in the high jump. Haneberg cleared 1.66 meters to set a new Westminster school record, breaking the previous mark and establishing herself as one of the program's premier field athletes. Haneberg's impact extended beyond the high jump, as she also recorded a No. 6 all-time mark in the 100-meter hurdles (15.92) and a No. 3 all-time mark in the long jump (5.06), making her one of the most versatile and impactful athletes of the meet.
Contributions Across Events
The Griffins saw success across multiple disciplines. In the women's 100-meter hurdles, Mia McKay (No. 7) and Teyvia Sidberry (No. 8) joined Haneberg in the top 10. In the throws, Ben Henriquez moved into No. 5 all-time in the shot put (10.61m). Westminster also added depth in the javelin, with Samuel Clements (No. 5, 40.86m) and Elliot Payne (No. 7, 37.26m) earning top-10 marks. Jack Mulliner entered the men's long jump rankings at No. 10 (5.95m), while Bella Tocco secured the No. 3 spot in the women's triple jump (9.09m). Distance events were equally productive, particularly in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase, where Ashley Cottino (No. 2 all-time), Sonya Brunner (No. 3), and Haven Finley (No. 4) all delivered top-10 performances.
A Statement to Open the Season
The Utah Tech Invitational served as more than just a season opener for the Westminster Griffins, it was a statement. With a school record in the 4x100-meter relay and a surge of athletes breaking into the program's all-time top 10, the Griffins demonstrated both elite performance and exceptional depth. As the season progresses, Westminster will look to build on this early success, with performances at Utah Tech signaling that the program is well-positioned for a historic 2026 campaign.
