Jumbos ready to 'bring Williams down'

While sprints, hurdles, and relays may be the focal point of the Tufts women's track and field, the team is looking forward to this season's field events.

The team's throwers consist of a veteran group of mostly juniors and seniors who have had the privilege to train under coach Rebecca Brooks, a former Williams thrower.

The team's greatest strength this season is shaping up to be the discus, where it has had much success in past years. In the discus, seniors Gwen Campbell and Kate Gluckman were able to place in last spring's NESCAC Championships, helping the team to an overall second place finish.

Gluckman was also able to place in last year's NCAA Div. III Championships. Both she and Campbell have logged throws within ten feet of the mark that would qualify them for the national meet.

Campbell is certainly aware of the damage she and the rest of the team's throwers are capable of doing this spring.

"Discus is our area with the greatest potential," Campbell said. "And it is a personal goal of mine as well."

The team also expects to be competitive in both the shot put and hammer throw this season, with Williams being the conference's team to beat in those events. At different points last season, senior Jessica Gauthier and juniors Jessica Colby and Katie Antle all held the school record in the hammer, and a new mark is expected this spring as well.

The throwers have their sights set this season on both scoring points for the team and excelling individually.

"We are looking for some of us to score in the championship meets and also the chance to send someone to nationals in a throwing event," Gauthier said.

The Jumbos' jumping program is also optimistic for the spring. Junior Sika Henry is coming off a ninth place finish in the long jump in this winter's NCAA Div. III Indoor Championships.

Senior quad-captain Jessica Trombly and classmate Shushanna Mignott will look to build on solid long jump performances from the indoor season.

Mignott and Trombly finished third and fourth, respectively, in the event at the New England Div. III Indoor Championships.

Tufts' throwing program is improving at much the same time as the rest of the team, making points scored in the throws that much more important in 2004. Coming off a finish only behind Williams in last spring's NESCAC Championships, the team is looking to clear the final hurdle and talking to its members, it does not lack the necessary confidence.

"I expect we will place no lower than second at NESCAC's," Campbell said. "And if there ever was a chance to bring Williams down, that is going to be the meet to do it."