Two-sport student-athletes lead Falcons at national championships

In March, the Messiah women’s track and field team sent five team members, including a pair of two-sport student-athletes, to the Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Boston, Massachusetts. Taylor Wiederrecht ’20 and Esther Seeland ’22 headlined Messiah’s showing in the event, earning All-America honors in the high jump and 800-meter run, respectively. The Falcons also sent their distance medley relay team of Maddison Landis, Ellissa Slader, Leanne Weaver and Seeland, finishing in 11th place with a time of 12:02.99.

Wiederrecht and Seeland earned their first All-America honors with top-eight finishes at the national meet. Wiederrecht was making her second-straight appearance at nationals after qualifying for the heptathlon in 2018. This year, she finished in a tie for sixth place in the high jump, clearing 1.68 meters (5’ 6.14”) on her third attempt.

Seeland advanced to nationals for the first time in her career after a dominant first year with the program. She was named the Middle Atlantic Conference Rookie of the Year and holds two individual program records in the 800 (2:11.70) and the mile (5:01.36).  She also ran key legs in the distance medley relay, 4x400 meter relay and 4x800 meter relay that broke program records this season. Seeland ran the 800 and distance medley relay, taking fourth in the 800 with a time of 2:11.82.

Not only are Wiederrecht and Seeland national contenders in track and field, but both are dual-sport athletes and are coming off NCAA Tournament appearances this past fall. A forward on the Messiah field hockey team, Wiederrecht scored seven goals in 2018, helping the Falcons to their fourth-straight Elite Eight appearance.

On the pitch, Seeland is a defender for the women’s soccer team that allowed a nation-leading 0.23 goals against average, while advancing to the Sweet 16 for the 18th time in the last 19 seasons.

– Matthew Fenton ’13, MA ’16, director of athletic communications