The Washington & Jefferson College track & field teams split for their opening weekend of the 2025-26 season, breaking a program records in each season opener. The Presidents traveled to the YSU Icebreaker hosted by Division I Youngstown State as well as the GVSU Holiday Open hosted by Division I Grand Valley State.
 
Claire Anderson (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown) and Nick DeSanto (Erie, Pa./McDowell) highlighted the day for the Presidents at two separate season opening meets, each breaking program records.
 
Anderson broke the W&J indoor 5,000-meter run record with a personal-best time of 16:48.20 at the Grand Valley State Holiday Open. The senior bested all runners in her heat, finishing first against top Division III talent and Division I runners. Anderson finished ninth overall in the event, besting all Division III runners through each heat. If Anderson had reached this mark last season, the time would have ranked ninth among the indoor qualifiers.
 
The previous record was held by Kristen Galligan from the 2013 indoor season, as she raced to a 17:04.75 time in the 5k.
 
DeSanto broke the W&J indoor record in the high jump with personal best mark of 1.94 meters (6' 4.25") to finish sixth at the YSU Icebreaker. The record was previously held by Declan Fricko from the 2022 season, jumping to a height of 1.90 meters (6' 3.25"). DeSanto also took 16^th in the long jump with a distance of 6.25 meters (20' 6.25").
 
Anthony Cestaro III (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers) also posted a great start to the 2025-26 season. The senior coasted to his fastest time at the indoor opening meet in the 200-meter dash with a mark of 22.19, taking ninth. He also posted his second fastest start to a season in the 60-meter dash with a mark of 7.05 in the preliminary heat.
 
Dominic Flitcraft (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) raced to an eighth-place finish in the 5,000-meter run, finishing with a time of 15:07.60.
 
Reaching personal-bests for the W&J men as well were Cole Pawich (Washington, Pa./Chartiers Houston) in the shot put and Collin Dusman (Hartville, Ohio/Lake) in the 400-meter dash. Pawich posted a personal-best throw of 10.50 meters (34' 5:50") while Dusman raced to a personal-best time of 53.97.

Maria Gilles (North Ridgeville, Ohio/Lake Ridge Academy) had a productive start to the indoor season for the W&J women. Gilles paced her way to a personal-best time of 18:02.93 in the 5,000-meter run to finish ninth.
 
Cali LaRue (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) captured two top 20 finishes at the YSU Icebreaker. LaRue finished 12^th in the 1-mile run with a time of 5:25.29 and finished 17^th in the 800-meter run with a mark of 2:32.81.
 
Sarah Schneider (Warren, Ohio/Lordstown) finished with her second fastest time in the first meet of a season in the 60-meter hurdles, racing to a mark of 9.70 to place 21^st.
 
Freshman Abigael Nicolas (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) placed fourth in the unseeded high jump with a top leap of 1.49 meters (4' 10.50").
 
The W&J track & field teams will take the holiday break off before returning to action at the Muskingum Meet #1 in New Concord, Ohio on Saturday (Jan. 17). Their first meet in 2026 is scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. start.
 
Below is a list of the top finisher in each event for W&J at the YSU Icebreaker
Men
60-Meter Dash: Anthony Cestaro III (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers) – 7.05, 25th (Prelims)
200-Meter Dash: Anthony Cestaro III (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers) – 22.19, 9th
400-Meter Dash: Ethan Coble (California, Pa./California Area) – 53.95, 41st
800-Meter Run: Collin Helmick (Salem, Ohio/Salem) - 2:05.79, 24th
1-Mile Run: Daniel Petersen (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) - 4:35.69, 23^rd
5,000-Meter Run: Dominic Flitcraft (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) – 15:07.60, 8th
60-Meter Hurdles: Noah Neil (California, Pa./California Area) – 9.57, 32^nd (Prelims)
High Jump: Nick DeSanto (Erie, Pa./McDowell) – 1.94 meters (6' 4.25"), 6th
Long Jump: Nick DeSanto (Erie, Pa./McDowell) – 6.25 meters (20' 6.25"), 16th
Triple Jump: Noah Neil (California, Pa./California Area) – 11.19 meters (36' 8.50"), 26th
Shot Put: Cole Pawich (Washington, Pa./Chartiers Houston) – 10.50 meters (34' 5:50"), 49th
Weight Throw: Zachary Werner (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) – 12.84 meters (42' 1.50"), 25th
 
Women
60-Meter Dash: Rihanna Fordham (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) – 8.82, 60th (Qualifying Round)
200-Meter Dash – Myleigh Mashburn (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) – 28.26, 56th
400-Meter Dash: Myleigh Mashburn (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) – 1:04.39, 52nd
800-Meter Run: Cali LaRue (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) - 2:32.81, 17^th
1-Mile Run: Cali LaRue (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) - 5:25.29, 12^th
5,000-Meter Run: Maria Gilles (North Ridgeville, Ohio/Lake Ridge Academy) – 18:02.93, 9th
60-Meter Hurdles: Sarah Schneider (Warren, Ohio/Lordstown) – 9.70, 21st
High Jump: Abigael Nicolas (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) - 1.49 meters (4' 10.50"), 4^th (Unseeded)
Long Jump: Sarah Schneider (Warren, Ohio/Lordstown) – 4.91 meters (16' 1.50"), 23^rd
Triple Jump: Ella Neil (California, Pa./California Area) – 9.29 meters (30' 5.75"), 26th