It’s been a long time coming, but for the first time in over four decades, the Washington Demon girls’ track and field team is the champion of the Southeast Conference.

Washington braved the elements to win the conference meet yesterday in Fort Madison, posting a team score of 173 that was almost 50 points better than second-place Mount Pleasant and secured their first girls’ team title since 1979.

The Demons were led by an excellent night from Iris Dahl. The sophomore won a Southeast Conference championship in the 400-meter dash with a time of one minute two seconds, then also took the title in the 800 meters by crossing the finish line in two minutes 26 seconds. Dahl was also second place in both the 1,500 and 3,000 meters.

Sophomore Leighton Messinger brought home two Southeast Conference titles, winning the 400-meter hurdles in 1:08 and clearing four feet 10 inches to claim the crown in the high jump. Messinger also finished runner-up in the 100 hurdles.

The Demons’ Jaedyn Moore was the conference champ in the 200 in 27.01 seconds, but the freshman was also second in the 400; third in the 100; and fifth in the long jump. Washington won the conference crown in the shuttle hurdles relay by clocking in at 1:09 and also won the distance medley in 4:34.

Sophomore Ryen Pepper finished second to her teammate Messinger in the 400 hurdles, while senior Abigail Kleese was a bronze medalist in the 800 for the Demons. Washington junior Lauren Horak finished fourth in the 1,500, as did sophomore Leighton Salazar in the long jump.

The Demons also got fifth-place finishes from three juniors, including Rachel Sands in the 200; Quincy Griffis in the 3,000; and Kendall Hinrichsen in the 100 hurdles.

Washington would take silver in the 4-by-100-meters, as well as the 4-by-400 and 4-by-800, while the Demons were third in the 4-by-200 and fourth in the sprint medley.