Women fare well at All-New England Championships

After competing as a team last week at the New England Div. III Championship meet, the women's track and field squad took a different tact this past weekend. A group of 14 Jumbos made the trip to Smith College, which hosted the All-New England Championships. Given the pared down Tufts contingent, the goal of those attending was not to compete as a team as much to achieve individual objectives.

"We basically went for the relay and a few open events to get some qualifiers for NCAAs, ECACs, or to hit school records. It was a good meet for us," coach Kristen Morwick said.

All four relay teams that raced -- 4x200, 4x400, 4x800, and the distance medley relay (DMR) -- finished within the top 12, with three of them speeding to season bests. Most notably, the 4x400 squad of sophomore Sika Henry, freshman Rachel Bloom, and juniors Emily Bersin and Jessica Trombly clocked an improved NCAA qualifying mark. Finishing fifth overall in 3:57.97, the 4x400 team put itself in eighth on the Nationals list in an event that took the top 10 fastest last year. The effort was also the second all time fastest indoor time in Tufts history.

In a similar vein, the 4x800 crew came close to the school record in its weekend endeavor, ending just 2.5 seconds off the mark. Junior Katie Higley, freshman Daniela Fairchild, senior Danielle Perrin, and sophomore Katie Sheedy comprised the squad, which ran to a season best and posted the second fastest time on the Tufts all-time list. The time of 9:37.54 was good for 12th.

The DMR squad also achieved a season best, as Perrin, Higley, Sheedy, and junior Lauren Caputo ran a PR of 12:26.85 that put the squad tenth in the meet and third on the Tufts all-time list. The time was a full 30 second improvement upon the effort put in last week. The DMR could square off against a higher caliber of competition at the upcoming ECAC Championship meet in an attempt to get further into the postseason.

"If the same team runs next week, the DMR could very well qualify. It just depends whether it's better for individuals to go for their events or to go for the DMR," senior Ashley Peterson said.

Though there were impressive accomplishments met by the relay teams, there were also individual feats that deserve recognition. Coming off an unparalleled performance in winning five events at Div. III's, Trombly did not disappoint this week. Chasing a record that has stood the test of time for 13 years, Trombly ran a blistering 56.47 in the 400 to claim the school record, previously held by Vera Stenhouse. The record time also gave Trombly an NCAA automatic qualifying time.

In the mile run, Caputo scampered to a PR, vaulting herself to third on the Tufts All-Time list with her time of 5:13.51, which put her 13th overall in the race. Representing the sprints, Bloom dashed to a PR in the 200 in 26.31, garnering 11th place and missing out of the finals by three spots.

"This weekend was the smallest amount of competitors we've taken to a meet. It was more a chance for the relays to get better times and to better qualifying marks," Peterson said.

The upcoming ECAC Championship meet to be hosted at the Gantcher Center will be similar to the All-New England Championship but on a larger and more competitive scale. It will be a last chance for those looking to qualify for the indoor NCAA meet to get or better qualifying times. With the outdoor season starting in about two weeks, the ECAC will bring an official end to many on the indoor team.

"It's a competitive and exciting meet for those who run in it. There are 90 teams and it's a big weekend, a great chance for those to have qualified to run against some fast people and try to get some fast times for the relays," Peterson said.