GRANTHAM, PA (May 2, 2026) -- The King's College women's outdoor track and field team turned in a historic performance on Saturday in the third and final day of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Starry Outdoor Track and Field Stadium, hosted by Messiah University.
 
The Monarchs recorded the best team score in program history with 96 points, finishing third out of fourteen schools to tie the highest team placement in program history. King's capped their record-breaking outing with multiple podium finishes, two school records, and a standout performance from the 2026 Field Athlete of the Year, Brandy Varner. Lebanon Valley won the conference title with a team score of 136 points.
 
In the track events, the group of Ava Butcher, Ali Butcher, Erin McLean, and Kat Smith kicked off the day by posting a fifth-place podium finish in the 4x100 meter relay. The squad posted a school record time of 49.32, breaking their own record of 49.59 from yesterday's preliminaries by .27 seconds.
 
Ava Butcher secured a bronze medal and Third Team All-MAC status in the 400 meter dash by crossing the line in 58.14 seconds, while Kat Smith got fourth at 58.17 seconds, and Eveyln Sahd took seventh at 59.81 seconds.
 
Smith continued her dominance, as she earned another podium placement by taking sixth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.21 seconds.
 
Ali Butcher placed sixth in the 100-meter dash, stooping the clock at 13:03 seconds, while Cecilia Chipriano placed 29th at 20:50.73 in the 5,000 meter run.
 
The Monarchs closed the day out on the track by winning the 4x400 meter relay, as the squad of Ava Butcher, Ali Butcher, Kat Smith, Evelyn Sahd earned First-Team All-MAC recognition with a school record time of 3:58.13. They broke their previous time of 4:00.11, which was recorded at the Messiah Invitational by 1.98 seconds.
 
In the field events, Brandy Varner secured her third gold medal and First Team All-MAC performance of this year's MAC Championships, topping the 26-competitor field in shot put with a throw of 13.49 meters. Varner's feat marked the first time she won the outdoor conference championship title in the event. Adding to the accolades, Varner became the first female athlete to sweep the shot put, hammer throw, and discus throw at the MAC Championships.
 
Nayeli Moliere and Caitlin Kirk also competed in the event, as Moliere scored a sixth-place podium spot with a toss of 11.63 meters, and Kirk claimed ninth at 11.20 meters.
 
In the javelin throw, Katey Shoemaker claimed the silver medal with a personal best mark of 40.12 meters. Shoemaker's performance was 1.32 meters better than her previous standard. Ariela Towsey finished 13th overall at 30.15 meters.
 
Soyer Delucy took 15th in the triple jump with a leap of 9.83 meters.
 
Varner rounded out her historic day by earning the Middle Atlantic Conference Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year title, becoming the first Monarch in program history to win the award. Additionally, Varner becomes the first Monarch to win both Indoor and Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year in the same season.
 
King's returns to action at the All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 13, at Patterson Field in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, hosted by Ursinus College. A couple of competitors will compete at the Widener Final Qualifier on May 11, at the George A. Hansell Track and Field stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania, hosted by Widener University.