STANDISH, Maine – The Saint Joseph's College women's track and field team capped off a historic season with a strong performance at the 2025 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Competing at home at the SJC Outdoor Complex across April 26–27, the Monks tallied key performances across the board to secure a third-place team finish with 146 points, the program's highest point total at GNACs.

"We battled hard this weekend, capping off a special season for Monks Track and Field," said Head Coach Mike Burleson. "Our women have been fully committed from day one, pushing our program to new heights. It's exciting to see that success and we can't wait to carry that momentum into next season."

MEET HIGHLIGHTS

• Ava Smart captured the 400m title (1:00.35), leading a 1-2 sweep alongside teammate Audrey Bilodeau (1:02.22).
• Audrey Bilodeau won the 400m hurdles (1:09.95), placed 2nd in the 100m hurdles (15.74).
• Ellie Leech won the javelin with a throw of 38.47m (126'2") and finished 3rd in the shot put (10.02m).
• Ella Labrie placed 2nd in both the long jump (4.87m) and triple jump (10.61m), scoring major points in her GNAC Championship debut.
• The 4x400m relay team of Ava Smart, Bella Koepsell, Alexia Young, and Cheri Willems won the conference title with a time of 4:15.25.
• The 4x800m relay team of Alexia Young, Audrey Bilodeau, Bella Koepsell, and Cheri Willems placed 2nd with a time of 10:02.18.
• Cheri Willems finished 2nd in the 800m (2:30.37) to lead a strong mid-distance group.

FOR THE PODIUM
1st Place – Gold Medalists
Ava Smart – 400m
Audrey Bilodeau – 400m Hurdles
Ellie Leech – Javelin
4x400m Relay – Ava Smart, Bella Koepsell, Alexia Young, Cheri Willems

2nd Place – Silver Medalists
Audrey Bilodeau – 100m Hurdles
Cheri Willems – 800m
Ellie Labrie – Long Jump
Ellie Labrie – Triple Jump
4x800m Relay – Alexia Young, Audrey Bilodeau, Bella Koepsell, Cheri Willems

3rd Place – Bronze Medalists
Ellie Leech – Shot Put
Zoe Indenga, Alexis Cowan, Jemima Kabangu, Madalyn Guindon – 4x100m Relay

SPRINTS & RELAYS
Freshman Zoe Indenga led the Monks in the 100m prelims (13.52), while Ava Smart powered to a 400m victory (1:00.35). The Monks' relays were outstanding, winning the 4x400m and placing 2nd in the 4x800m, along with a 3rd-place showing in the 4x100m.

MID-DISTANCE & DISTANCE
Cheri Willems anchored the middle-distance crew with a 2nd-place finish in the 800m (2:30.37), while Bella Koepsell added a 4th-place finish in the 800m and 1500m. Haley Williams scored key points in the 5000m and 10,000m, placing 5th and 4th respectively.

HURDLES
Audrey Bilodeau was electric, winning the 400m hurdles (1:09.95) and finishing 2nd in the 100m hurdles (15.74) while qualifying for the New England Championships. Madalyn Guindon also scored with a 4th-place finish in the 100m hurdles.

JUMPS
Freshman Ella Labrie delivered a breakout meet, finishing 2nd in both the long jump (4.87m) and triple jump (10.61m). Zoe Indenga and Olivia Bean added more points in the triple jump.

THROWS
Ellie Leech stole the show in the throws, winning the javelin (38.47m), placing 3rd in the shot put (10.02m), and scoring over 20 individual points. Abby O'Brien finished 2nd in the discus (30.18m) and 5th in the hammer (36.25m) to cap off her career.

RESULTS
100m Dash
Zoe Indenga (13.52, 10th Prelims)
Christie Cole (14.42, 20th Prelims)
Jemima Kabangu (14.57, 23rd Prelims)

200m Dash
Ava Richards (31.10, 14th)

400m Dash
Ava Smart (1:00.35, 1st)
Audrey Bilodeau (1:02.22, 2nd)

800m Run
Cheri Willems (2:30.37, 2nd)
Bella Koepsell (2:33.46, 4th)
Alexia Young (2:45.49, 10th)
Karina Jones (3:26.26, 18th)

1500m Run
Bella Koepsell (5:11.13, 4th)

5000m Run
Haley Williams (20:15.80, 5th)
Terry Cassetta (27:23.36, 7th)

10,000m Run
Haley Williams (44:09.65, 4th)
Terry Cassetta (59:36.70, 8th)

100m Hurdles
Audrey Bilodeau (15.74, 2nd – New England Qualifier)
Madalyn Guindon (16.92, 4th)

400m Hurdles
Audrey Bilodeau (1:09.95, 1st)
Madalyn Guindon (1:18.01, 7th)

3000m Steeplechase
Alexia Young (13:58.45, 6th)

4x100m Relay
Alexis Cowan, Zoe Indenga, Jemima Kabangu, Madalyn Guindon (53.00, 3rd)

4x400m Relay
Ava Smart, Bella Koepsell, Alexia Young, Cheri Willems (4:15.25, 1st)

4x800m Relay
Alexia Young, Audrey Bilodeau, Bella Koepsell, Cheri Willems (10:02.18, 2nd)

High Jump
Breya Whitman (1.46m, 4th)

Long Jump
Ella Labrie (4.87m, 2nd)
Alexis Cowan (4.66m, 5th)
Olivia Bean (4.45m, 8th)
Kate Auricchio (3.96m, 13th)
Samira Mohamed (3.47m, 16th)

Triple Jump
Ella Labrie (10.61m, 2nd)
Zoe Indenga (10.53m, 3rd)
Olivia Bean (10.36m, 5th)
Alexis Cowan (9.59m, 10th)
Breya Whitman (9.33m, 12th)
Kate Auricchio (9.29m, 13th)
Samira Mohamed (8.45m, 18th)

Shot Put
Ellie Leech (10.02m, 3rd)
Jemima Kabangu (9.73m, 5th)
Abby O'Brien (9.20m, 8th)
Berkley Hutchins (9.08m, 9th)
Katelynn Reynolds (9.08m, 10th)
Haley Lang (7.54m, 19th)
Sarah Joe (7.30m, 21st)

Discus Throw
Abby O'Brien (30.18m, 2nd)
Katelynn Reynolds (24.82m, 10th)
Haley Lang (23.90m, 11th)
Sarah Joe (20.38m, 20th)

Hammer Throw
Abby O'Brien (36.25m, 5th)
Katelynn Reynolds (34.64m, 6th)
Sarah Joe (34.24m, 7th)
Haley Lang (21.11m, 18th)

Javelin Throw
Ellie Leech (38.47m, 1st)
Haley Lang (23.12m, 9th)
Sarah Richard-Cote (21.49m, 12th)

UP NEXT!
Monks athletes who qualified for the NCAA Division III New England Championships will head to Coast Guard Academy for postseason competition on May 2–3.