For many on the men's track team, this weekend marks the end of another indoor track season, as well as the ends of careers for the senior members of the team. It is fitting then that the ECAC's, the final meet before the NCAA's, is at home in the Gancher Center.
Four seniors will represent the Jumbos today and Saturday. Again, fittingly, three of the seniors are tri-captains Adam Sharp, Greg Devine and Bryan Pitko, who are joined by classmate Jake Berman. The group leads a strong group onto the track to compete against approximately 50 teams.
"It's one of those meets where there is no way to scope things out," coach Connie Putnam said. "We have no room to move people into strategic positions."
The strength of the Jumbos' lineup tips towards the track events, with just three of 18 athletes competing on the field. Putnam believes, however, that while there are not enough field competitors to score an even balance of points, the team will still excel, given the running contingent's depth.
Sentiments and emotions will be running high too, considering the meet's symbolism.
"I suppose it's something I have to think about every year, but it's not something I want to think about," Putnam said. "Every May, I have to go through graduation, which is like a funeral. But as a coach, I try to avoid these emotional aspects too much during the season, because it drains on the team and by the end they wouldn't have it in them."
Putnam's thoughts were echoed by the captains. Sharp (whose best time is 2:34.40) will compete in the 1000 meter run, making an all-out assault on Paul Murray's 1982 school record (2:29.32).
"I'm trying not think about [the emotional] part of it," Sharp said. "I'm going to go for the record, and try to run it really level. I tried once earlier in the season but went out too hard at the start and didn't have enough left in the end."
Sharp will lead off the distance medley relay (DMR) with the 1200, and likely will run the 4x800 as well. Putnam has put together the fastest possible DMR team to join Sharp. Devine or sophomore Ray Carre will run the second leg, the 400. Freshman Shawn Hansberry, also running the 500 dash (1:06.20) and 4x400, will run the 800 leg, while sophomore Aaron Kaye will anchor with the 1600. Kaye will also try to break the four-minute barrier in the 1500 (4:01.50).
Devine (school record 7.56 seconds) and Pitko (7.65) continue to challenge one another for the school record in the 55 hurdles. The pair is headed to Indiana for the NCAA's next weekend. Devine is not overly concerned with the sentimental side of the meet.
"I'd be a liar to say that I wasn't thinking about it," he said. "But that's not the most important thing. We'll be out there to run fast, out there to run hard and hopefully qualify some extra guys [for the NCAA's]. To break the record, that's a goal every week, because it shows improvement. But it's not the main focus; it can also be distracting."
Sophomore Nate Thompson (7.92) joins Devine and Pitko in the hurdles, while attempting to qualify for NCAA's in the long jump (6.95 meters).
In other events, five Jumbos will compete in the 3000, including sophomore Michael Don (8:41.80), junior Jon Rosen (8:54.90) and freshmen Michael Cummings (8:53.40), Kyle Doran (8:55.70) and Matt Lacey (8:56.00). Sophomore Nate Brigham (15:02.60) and junior Peter Bromka (15.25.90) run the 5000, while Berman joins Sharp, Lacey and Kaye in the 4x800 (7:53.90).
The 4x400 team (3:20.50) of Devine, Carre, Hansberry and freshman Pat Mahoney has a chance to break the 1995 school record of 3:18.26. Carre (49.37), alongside Mahoney (50.24), will run the 400 dash as well.
Junior Adrian Clarke (4.15 meters) and freshman Seth LaPierre (4.45) will contend in the pole vault, joining Thompson as the only other field competitors.
The meet is full of little emotional motivations, according to Putnam. But another important factor has been the support shown for the team throughout the season.
"Our campus supports us very well, and it's a big thing to have such a big meet here," Putnam said. "It's a great chance to see some great Tufts athletes compete."
And, with several Jumbos competing at home for the final time today and tomorrow, it is also the last chance.
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