SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Pacific women's track and field team kicked off the 2023 season Saturday morning at the On Your Marks Open, hosted at Westmont College.
 
"It was a great start to the season," Head Coach Josh Jones said after the meet. "The throwers performed well, and the distance runners ran hard in every event."
 
Three team members competed in the 3,000 meters, with Sophie Pazzo leading the pack. Collecting her first-ever first-place finish in the event, Pazzo's time of 11:11.30 was over 15 seconds faster than the closest competitor.
 
Dalee Higgins and Anahi Avila Perez also competed in the 3,000 meters, earning fourth and fifth-place finishes. Higgins finished with a time of 11:53.91, while Perez crossed the finish line under six seconds later with a time of 11:59.09.
 
In the 5,000 meters, Pazzo and Perez once again shined as Pazzo grabbed second place with a time of 18:39.44. Perez set a personal best in the event, earning a sixth-place finish in the nine-member field with a time of 20:20.38.
 
In her only event, Ella Leroy took part in the indoor pentathlon, earning a fourth-place finish with 1,914 points. During the five-part event, Leroy competed in the 60-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump, and 800 meters.
 
Leilani Rios and Karina Beck participated in their first-ever collegiate meet as the duo competed in the shot put and weight throw. Rios earned a third-place finish in the shot put with a throw of 10.69 meters and was one of only four competitors to surpass 10 meters during the event.
 
Beck's longest throw was 9.13 meters, and she finished sixth place.
 
Rios set a program record of 11.91 meters in the weight throw, earning a fourth-place finish. Beck completed the event in eighth place, with her longest throw being 7.10 meters.
 
Pacific returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 11, competing in the Sunshine Invite at Westmont College.