By Jacob Norling
March 22, 2025
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) The annual Westmont Classic took place on a day better fit for a postcard in Santa Barbara on Saturday. Both the sun, and the Warriors shined bright on a day that saw multiple records fall.
 
The first record to go on Saturday was the program's best-career mark in the men's hammer, which entering today, belonged to David Oyebade at 50.29 meters. About an hour into the meet, Westmont broadcaster Luke Verdon broke the news that Oyebade had displaced his personal record with new-career-best mark of 50.59 meters.
 
However, by the time Luke went back to ask Oyebade for an interview, David informed Verdon that 50.59 was old news. This was because Oyebade beat his record twice on Saturday, ultimately winning the event with a program-record 51.87 meter mark in the men's hammer.
 
When those two did finally link up for an interview, Oyebade said, "Coming out of warm-ups I felt good. There were some good throws. But going into my first throw, I fouled it, scratched it. I always struggle with the first throw I feel like.
 
"Going into the final round I was in third, but I knew I could throw a 50-plus. Up to that point, I really had not been on my game today. Still, I knew I had it in me, and I was super happy to see a 50. Then, after that, it was even more special to see a 51.87. What made the day even more special, however, was having my grandparents here today. They came out from Minnesota today, and it was a wonderful time."
 
The next record to fall was also from a previous record-holder, or in fact, a group of them. In the women's 4x100 relay, the program's fastest quartet once again solidified their place atop the program record list. After running a 47.63 two weeks ago, Grace Soberanis, Kennah Shaffer, Jaiden Rodrigues, and Charlotte Williams were at it again. This time, the women posted a new program-best time of 47.60.
 
"It's such a fast race, the only thing you can really focus on is what's happening in your lane," reflected Rodrigues. "Being a senior, this was a really special day for me with it being my last home meet. For me, and for all of us, we just wanted to have fun and enjoy every little second."
 
Williams said, "I've been here for three years now, all three of those with Jaiden so there's a really special bond there. Now, getting to have Grace and Kennah a part of the team, it's been great to both bond together and also push each other. It's special to be able to share so many events with these people."
 
For Soberanis, one of the newest members of Westmont's squad, the freshman said, "As a freshman, just getting into this, it's so special to get to be a part of a school record. It's a great feeling, and hopefully we can continue to do it."
 
Rodrigues stayed busy later on, when Westmont's star senior also won the women's 200 meter dash with a time of 25.24. Soberanis came out victorious in the women's 100 meter dash, where she posted a meet-best time of 12.57. The race makes Soberanis the number-nine performer in the program's 100 meter history.
 
Elsewhere, Westmont's Joshua Lin won the men's 400 meter run with a time of 48.43. This came hours after he competed in the 4x800 relay alongside Jack Vanden Heuvel, Andres Leon, and Jude Sandrige. Those four posted a time of 7:51.94.
 
"Today was a hard day," acknowledged Lin. "We have a great 4x800 team, they really get me through this. After being abroad in Uganda in the fall, I got to train a little bit. But it's so nice being back and being able to work with these guys again.
 
"I didn't feel great today, and I want to thank God for helping me through it. I took a lot of inspiration from the heptathletes and decathletes the last two days as well. It takes up a lot of time being a student-athlete, obviously working hard academically and then coming out at the end of each day to put in the work out here. It's hard, but I love it so much. It is a blessing to be here with this team."
 
In the women's 800 meter run, senior Abigail Hundley narrowly edged out teammate Claire Van Horn when the senior posted a time of 2:17.80 to beat the sophomore's mark of 2.17.87. For Hundley, Saturday was her final race on Westmont's campus.
 
"It's a joy to be a part of the track and field team," reflected Hundley. "To be coached by Coach Connolly, and Coach Smelley, it's been a blessing. It has been the highlight of my college experience at Westmont.
 
"The biggest thing I've taken away from my time with the team is that it's important to have something on your calendar that makes you a little nervous. I learned that from Danny Rubin, who was two years older than us, and I've been passing that down to the younger athletes ever since. You have to get excited for the nerves, and you can't be afraid of the things that make you nervous. You have to take it head on."
 
Zola Sokhela did his thing during the men's mile, when Sokhela won the event with a time of 4:06.77. While Sokhela's mile time was more than five seconds faster than any of his opponents, things were a bit more interesting in the 800 meter run. The Master's Hunter Roy emptied the tank down the final stretch to try and upset Westmont's senior, but by an eyelash, Sokhela's time of 1:54.15 beat Roy's time of 1:54.16.
 
Another Westmont winner on Saturday came in the men's 110 meter hurdles, where Grayson Guillen posted a meet-best time of 16.59. John Sakaguchi also came out victorious in the men's long jump, where he jumped a meet-best mark of 7.05, and James Brewer won the triple jump, with a mark of 13.18 meters. Rounding out the men's successes on Saturday, senior Brhyce Gardhouse won the men's 5000 meter run with a time of 15:25.67.
 
Another pair of Westmont relay teams capped off a special day when the women's 4x400 team, consisting of Kylie Cekalski, Makenzie Fauver, Rodrigues, and Williams won the race with a time of 4:00.73. Then, on the men's side, Justin Hess, Andres Leon, Zola Sokhela, and Joshua Lin won the race with a season-best time of 3:18.53.
 
As a team, both the men and the women finished in second place.
 
The Warriors are roughly one month from the PacWest Championships, which begin on April 25 in Fresno.