Women all set for strong indoor campaign

Last season, despite being decimated by recurring illness and injuries, the women's indoor track and field team finished second in the New England Division III Championships, fifth in the ECAC's, 17th in the All New England Champs and sent representatives in two events to the NCAA Division III Nationals at DePauw, Indiana.

And while many teams would be more than satisfied with those achievements, when the women open their 2003-04 winter campaign on Dec. 6 at Northeastern, the team is aiming even higher.

"This would be the year to do it [all]," coach Kristen Morwick said. "We lose some significant seniors after this season, seniors who have been with me for four years and have come through full cycle. It's a key year if we can stay healthy."

But while this year's seniors are a crucial part of what Morwick hopes will be a championship-caliber machine, they are supported by a deep, balanced squad. The Jumbos lost 17 seniors to graduation last year, but the team's depth will, according to Morwick, make for a relatively smooth, seamless transition. The current roster contains 64 athletes- 13 of them seniors, 11 juniors, 12 sophomores, and a large freshman base of 28.

The biggest thing for the team, heading into the winter season, is to stay healthy. Last year's squad was dotted with holes due to injuries, but those holes are now filled by fresh faces and a revitalized, fully healthy group of returnees.

"We shouldn't miss a beat. We should be even better this year," Morwick said. "The injured last year have filled in [the gaps]. Everyone's coming back stronger."

Led by senior captains Lauren Caputo, Katie Higley, Jess Trombly and Emily Bersin, the women have a multi-faceted attack that could prove tough, on both the track and field.

The sprinters are led by Higley and Trombly, who set school records in the 200 (25.75 seconds) and 400 (56.47) meter dashes last winter and went to nationals in both the 400 and with the 4x400 relay team. Trombly won a slew of other honors, including winning five events in the New England Div. III's, an unprecedented achievement by a Tufts athlete.

Bersin and classmate Shushanna Mignott, along with sophomores Rachel Bloom and Katie Gadkowski, will also play important roles in the sprint events. Bloom, the team's freshman award winner last season, burst onto the scene and helped the 4x400 team reach nationals. She was also one of only four Jumbos to gain All New England Div. I, II, III and All ECAC honors, alongside Trombly, Bersin and junior sprinter Sika Henry.

Freshmen Jessica Mactus, MacKenzie Rawcliffe, Kate Makai and Raquel Abrams could also be new contributors, while junior Katie Sheedy heads an able middle distance team, which also has a solid freshman presence.

The distance group has also gained strength. Caputo, fresh off a 71st place finish in the cross country nationals in Indiana two weeks ago, leads the charge. Cross country teammates senior Lauren Dunn, junior Emily Pfeil and sophomore Rebecca Ades should also contribute, along with new talent in the form of freshmen Angela Lee and Jennifer Torpey, among others.

"We have a much stronger distance team this year," Morwick said. "They're much improved, and the returners are a lot better."

On the field, the Jumbos return with the majority of their throwing squad from last season. Seniors Gwen Campbell and Jessica Gauthier lead what Morwick regards as a very solid group of throwers, but that also has considerable untested talent amongst the underclassmen.

"Some throwers in the senior class are going to be pretty strong," Morwick said. "It's a significant senior class, [but] I'm not really sure how the freshmen will pan out."

Junior Katie Antle earned All ECAC honors last winter in shot put, and others, including classmate Jessica Colby, will also play valuable roles.

The jumping events have gained depth too. Trombly led the team's long jumpers last winter with a 17'71/4" mark, while sophomores Molly Whittington (32'91/2") and Daniela Fairchild (32'81/4") topped the triple jump charts. Junior pentathlete Melissa Graveley was the team's top high jumper, and Gadkowski was the lone Tufts pole vaulter. The team will also receive a boost from the freshmen members and those returning from injury.

With a healthy squad, the team is anticipating more national qualifications, and another possible top three finish in New England Div. III's, battling it out with powerhouses Williams and Wheaton. Tufts' relay foursomes could prove dangerous, not just in New England, but in nationals too if they qualify. The distance medley relay team could challenge for national qualification, along with the 4x400 team again.

"Wheaton usually bags out because it thinks it's better than everyone else," Morwick said. "So we could place second if [it doesn't compete], and chase Williams."

"As you get later in the season, you're looking for qualifiers for nationals, so you're not putting all our kids in every event trying to score points [for the team]," Morwick added. "Quite a few people should have a shot [at qualifying], more than last year."