WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.— The Montreat women's track & field team made history competing at the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Indoor Track & Field Championships in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Monday and Tuesday. The two-day affair saw the Cavaliers score a total of 197 points from 36 scoring performances, claiming first place as a squad and the indoor conference crown for the first time in program history.
 
Montreat set the conference record for the most points scored by a women's team at the indoor championship meet. The 60-point victory margin was also an AAC women's indoor meet record.
 
The dominance started on Monday when senior Dylan Garcia absolutely shattered her own school record in the 1000m race, claiming the top spot in the event. Her time of 2:51.33 was not only an NAIA 'A' standard, but also the best time in the entire NAIA for the race. Teammate Brooke Wiebe finished third, joining Garcia with All-AAC honors in the race. Wiebe's time of 3:01.89 was just enough to earn an NAIA 'B' standard.
 
The 5000m race was next, and the Cavs swept the top two spots. Freshman Heather Murphy blew up her own record while snatching the top spot in the event. The 'A' standard time of 16:57.65 was another program best and the fastest time in the nation at the NAIA level. Ali Ray dazzled as well, finishing second with an 'A' standard time of 17:12.47, a new personal record. Both Cavs won garnered all-conference recognition for finishing within the top three participants.
 
Also on Monday, Kaylene Manternach finished on the podium in the 400m event. Her third place, 1:02.54 time was enough to claim all-conference honors in the race.
 
Jessica Gakeri finished second place in the triple jump. Her mark of 11.52m was good enough for a 'B' standard. The effort won her an all-conference award.
 
The distance medley relay was also on Monday. The Cavalier runners were Natalia Nieto, Anna Baugh, Elena Fibraio and Ragan Speer. The group finished second with a time of 13:34.27. The team won the all-conference award for the event by finishing inside of the top two teams.
 
On day two of the meet, Garcia started right where she left off when she finished first in the 800m race for her second title of the meet. Garcia's 2:16.47 was another school record while also capturing an 'A' standard. Montreat finished first and second in the race, with Wiebe placing second with a time of 2:21.83. Both Cavs took home all-conference awards as well.
 
"Yeah, I definitely didn't think I was running 2:16," Garcia noted. "Coach Rylan Hincher had sent some splits to paint on the first lap, and I was way under, and I was like, well this feels good so we're just going to run."
 
Garcia was not done just yet, however. Notching her third title of the day, she claimed the top spot in the mile race as well. Joined by her teammate Ray, the duo took first and second and obtained all-conference honors with their performances. Garcia's time of 4:59.01 surpassed the mark for an 'A' standard. Ray's time of 5:12.76 was a new personal best.
 
Montreat also found success in the 3000m race. Ray finished in second with a new personal-best time of 9:58.38. Claiming the all-conference award, Ray also earned a NAIA 'A' standard with her performance. Murphy notched a 'B' standard with her 10:09.63 showing, good for fourth.
 
The 600m saw two Cavalier runners finish in the top three participants. Yessenia Castellanos and Manternach finished second and third, respectively, both earning all-conference awards. Manternach finished with a time of 1:40.07, which beat her own school record; however, Castellanos was even faster and snatched the new program record of 1:39.27.
 
Also on Tuesday, Gakeri won the long jump with a bound of 5.63m. The jump secured not only a 'B' standard, but also a school record in the event. With her effort, Gakeri also won the all-conference award for finishing in the top three jumpers.
 
"I executed everything that my coach told me as far as improvements within my jumps, so I'm just grateful and blessed that I was able to execute," Gakeri said.
 
To round out the competition, the 4x400m relay team placed first place in the event. The group consisted of Manternach, Castellanos, Emily Standifer and Adrianna Gullette. Their time of 4:08.89 scored 10 points for the Cavs, adding to their historic meet.

Following the meet, numerous additional awards were handed out. Garcia was named Co-Track Athlete of the Year, while Heather Murphy grabbed the Newcomer of the Year honor. The Montreat coaching staff was named the Staff of the Year.
 
To see the full results from the AAC Indoor Championships, click here.
 
After an astounding performance, the Cavaliers will compete next at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will be held in Gainesville, Fla. from Feb. 27 through March 1.