Putnam thinks spring will have Jumbos in top form

Coach Connie Putnam thinks that the spring holds promise to be a little more productive for his men's track and field team than the winter was. And after 20 winter-to-spring transitions at Tufts, Putnam certainly has some experience on which to base that belief.

"We're excited to get outdoors, get some nice warm weather, some sun, get our Vitamin D," Putnam said. "We'll be better outdoors. We should throw further and run faster."

Spring will bring with it not only blue skies but the 10000 meter race and 3000 meter steeplechase, and both of those should be to the Jumbos' benefits. Senior tri-captain Peter Jurczynski is the defending NESCAC steeplechase champion, while Brigham was the conference's runner-up in the 10000.

"I consider the 10000 my best race," Brigham said. "I do the 5000 indoors partly because I know that in order to be a good 10000 runner you have to run a good 5000."

Additionally, the spring sprints are the 100 and 200 meters rather than the 55 and 100, where the Jumbos' cupboard of short distance sprinters is mostly bare. Although the Jumbos still don't have any experienced 200 meter runners other than junior Ray Carre, Putnam was hopeful that some of his quarter-milers could step down and try to help him out.

"Fifty-five meters is incredibly explosive; you're basically done once you accelerate," Putnam explained. "The 200 has a slight measure of endurance."

Putnam's knowledge and experience of the intricacies of running are one of the reasons that, over the years, the Tufts track and field team has established itself as one of the best in the NESCAC, and indeed in all of Division III New England. Although this year's team is extremely talented, no team can be great without dedicated coaches.

"Everything you could know about track, Connie knows," senior tri-captain Adrian Clarke said. "He knows it inside and out."

Yet apart from being a knowledgeable coach, Putnam seems to have a better idea of the 'big picture' than others.

"He's seen the top level teams, and he knows what we have to do reach that level," sophomore Matt Fortin explained.

At Putnam's side are assistant coaches Pat Dinino and Ethan Barron who, according to Clarke, "really know their stuff." Dinino spread his name across the Jumbo record book while competing for Putnam in the early 1990's, while Barron was a Middlebury Panther in college. The two will help the Jumbos continue to refine their technical skills in an effort to capture the NESCAC title.

"This is a great bunch of guys," Fortin added. "We are going to be a force to be reckoned with."