Track and field seniors make the most out of their ability at Tufts

Comprising one of the larger senior classes in the past few years, this core of runners, throwers, and vaulters made an impact that will be felt in both scoring and the work ethic they all evince.

"The most noticeable thing about this senior class is that they didn't all come in as all-stars in high school," coach Kristen Morwick said. "However, with the work and determination they've put in over the past four years they've all become real impact athletes and it's great to see what they've been able to accomplish when they all stuck with it."



Myriam Claudio

Myriam Claudio had never done track before college, making her advances over the past four years in the Tufts program all the more impressive. Claudio leaves as a record holder in the pole vault, and also ran a leg in the 4x100m relay that smashed the school record this season. The relay team is currently ranked 14th on the Nationals list and hopes to make the trip to St. Lawrence in Canton, NY to compete at the NCAA Div. III meet.

"She's been a solid contributor over the past four years," Morwick said. "We wouldn't have been able to do the relay without her, and she's had a really good college career especially considering that she never did track before Tufts."



Kristen Munson

Posting PRs in the 10K and 5K this year, Kristen Munson has made major strides in her ability during her time as a Jumbo. Munson was also a key contributor in cross-country, cracking the prestigious top seven. Having found her race this year, Munson has made big leaps in that time in both personal marks as well as contributions to the team. Munson leaves Tufts in the top ten in the best all-time 10k times.

"Kristen finally found her race, and it's shown in her times and accomplishments in the 10k this year," fellow senior Ashley Peterson said.



Mary Nodine

Battling two stress fractures over the past few years, Mary Nodine has shown an amazing ability to fight back. As of the New England Div. III meet, Nodine held the school record in the 3000 steeplechase and was ranked 17th on the Nationals list. Morwick has high hopes for Nodine making the trip to Nationals to represent the Jumbos in the steeplechase.

"Mary came back from some hard injuries and never gave up," Morwick said. "A lot of what shows results in Div. III is when you put in a lot of hard work and heart."



Danielle Perrin

Danielle Perrin is the second half of a dynamic duo that makes up the steeplechase contingent of the team. She and Nodine have been trading off the distinction of holding the school record in the steeplechase throughout the season. Perrin also made advances in the javelin as well as a slew of other long-distance events.

"In her first year Danielle wasn't even an impact athlete, and now she's a Nationals qualifier," Morwick said. "Both the coaches and her teammates recognize that she is the most improved, she really came into her own this last year."



Ashley Peterson

Also hassled by injury, Peterson came back from surgery that was performed because of nagging shin problems. Even given the injuries over her career, Peterson has made a big jump in the past year and posted PRs in the 5k and 10k races.

"I'm really proud of what Ashley's been able to do, given the surgeries and her academic rigors with the thesis and everything," Morwick said.



With these and other seniors leaving, the squad will have voids in the middle and long distances to fill. Nodine and Perrin are the top two steeplechasers and, along with Peterson and Munson, comprise a strong distance delegation. Claudio was the best pole-vaulter in an event that is hard to master. Morwick hopes that current team members, as well as a strong freshman class, will be able to fill in where these seniors will no doubt leave gaps.

"We're losing a good group," Morwick said. "A lot of the seniors had their best season this last season, which is great to see. Hopefully next year others who were not as visible in contributing will step up that role just like this senior class did."