Much like the New England Patriots, the women's track and field team entered its weekend competition unsure of the outcome, but ended the day with a resounding win. The Jumbos topped conference foe Bowdoin on their home track by a narrow margin, thanks to an array of victories in several different events.
Tufts finished with at total of 234.5 points to edge out the Polar Bears, who totaled 223.5. Springfield College was a distant third with 150 points, while Gordon College took fourth with 6 points.
"We were really hoping to win," senior co-captain Lauren Esposito said. "Every year we go back and forth. It's always nice to go up there and beat them. We didn't really have to strategize, some people had to double up, but it really came down to a great team performance."
The combination of first place finishes in running, jumping, and throwing events were enough to push Tufts over the top. "There were a lot of first place finishes and a lot of personal bests," sophomore Jessica Gauthier said. "The team came together and it wasn't just one event group or discipline that provided the points, it was a combination of everything working together."
In the sprints, junior co-captain Myriam Claudio led the way with a first place finish in the 55m dash (7.68) as well as in the 200 (27.26), and a third place tie in the pole vault with Bowdoin's Anne Barmettler. Joining Claudio in the 55 were sophomore Shushanna Mignott, who took third (7.92), and freshman Ayako Sawanobori, who finished closely behind in fourth (7.98). Mignott also leaped to sixth in the long jump (4.48m) and an impressive second place in the triple jump (10.51m).
The 400 proved to be a strength for the team as sophomore Jessica Trombly captured first (1:00.34), freshman Sika Henry raced to second place (1:03.34), and sophomore Emily Bersin took fourth (1:03.86). Esposito (2:29.88), sophomore Lauren Caputo (2:30.94), and senior Ellen Adams (2:35.18) garnered a commanding third, fourth, and seventh places in the 800.
Caputo also ran to a sixth place finish in the one mile race (5:24.10) that was good enough for a personal record.
The 1000 run saw freshman Katie Sheedy crossing the finish line in third place (3:08.12), junior Mary Nodine in fifth place (3:10.21), and senior Colleen Burns in sixth place (3:10.41). Rounding out the distance events were juniors Ashley Peterson (11:08.39) and Sarah Foss (11:10.90), who finished fourth and fifth in the 3000 run,
In addition, all three relay teams - the 4x200, 4x400, and 4x800 - captured first.
Leading the way for the jumpers was Sarah Leistikow, who placed first in the high jump (1.52m) and first in the long jump (4.91m), as well as taking fifth in the 55m hurdles (9.75) and tenth in the 800 (2:38.34). Leistikow participates in the pentathlon, an event that takes into account scores from five track and field disciplines: the high jump, long jump, 55 hurdles, shot put, and the 800. Even though no meet offers an official pentathlon schedule, Leistikow participates in the five events throughout the season to build her pentathlon resume in preparation for the Division III Championships, which she qualified for this past weekend.
Spiker finished just behind Leistikow for second place in the high jump (1.52m), while Henry rounded out the top three in the high jump (1.47m).
Rounding out an impressive squad were the ever-improving throwers, with the Jumbos placing first in both throwing events. In the weight throw, Gauthier took first place honors (12.43m), while freshmen Jessica Colby (11.29) and Katie Antle (9.98), and sophomore Gwen Campbell (9.96) placed third, sixth, and seventh. Antle was the victor in the shot put (11.32).
The throwers have enjoyed continued success throughout the season, with at least one team member setting a personal best each week. Antle has qualified for Division III's and ECAC's in the shot put, and Colby has made it to Division III's in the shot put and the weight throw.
With a victory over Bowdoin on their side, the Jumbos' momentum is building. The formula for success seems to be in the young team's ability to spread its points across the board in a range of events. They'll get another chance to do that at this weekend's Tufts Invitational.
"This year more than any other year, we're strong in every event group." Leistikow said. "We've always had strong performers, but this year there's not an event group that's not contributing points. It's very exciting that we're doing so well, especially at this point in the season."
