By Jacob Norling
May 4, 2021
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Although Westmont was unable to continue their streak of conference championships, the Warriors still came away with some hardware following the conclusion of the GSAC Track and Field Championships. Sydney Marr was named Women's Performer of the Meet (Field) and Zola Sokhela was named Freshman Performer of the Meet, and also Performer of the Meet (Track).
 
Marr's highlight of the weekend was finishing first in the hammer throw with a toss almost ten meters further than the second-place finisher. Marr's throw of 54.10 meters (177-06) was the one that surpassed all others.
 
Elsewhere Marr stayed competitive and at the top of each leaderboard as she finished third in shot put and second place discus.
 
Westmont head coach Russell Smelley has described Marr as, "Stellar in her preparation for hammer competitions. She is technically sound and personally perfectionistic. Sydney is both consistent in training and an outstanding competitor."
 
For Sokhela, the freshman shined every time he stepped on the track. Zola won both the men's 800 meter run and also the men's 1500 meter run. And with no sign of fatigue whatsoever, Sokhela finished the day as Westmont's anchor in the 4x400 and solidified their victory with a lap around the track less than one second faster than ACU's Justin Redmon.
 
"Zola enjoys challenging training sessions," said Smelley. "And he expresses that joy with fast performances. It goes without saying how impressive he has been. He's been competing very well and he was great during the GSAC Championships."
 
The Westmont Track and Field team will have one last tune-up in Azusa on May 14 and 15 at the Last Chance Twilight Meet. And then the Warriors focus will turn to the NAIA Outdoor National Championships, which take place in Gulf Shores, Alabama from May 26 to 28.