Unlike in most sports, a track and field team cannot be evaluated by its win−loss record. In fact, one can barely even assess a team by how it performs in the opening weeks of the season. Instead, the way to judge a team is by how it finishes a season, when the championship meets roll around.
That time has come for the women's track and field squad, and so far, the team couldn't ask for much better outcomes.
After taking second out of 11 teams at last week's NESCAC Championships, the Jumbos turned in another impressive outing over this past weekend, when they hosted the New England Div. III Championships and took fourth.
But, unlike at the conference championships, the focus at New Englands is to accomplish personal goals, something that many Jumbos were able to do. Three team members won individual championships in their respective events, while several others registered NCAA−qualifying times and high finishes.
"It's such a different atmosphere than [at] NESCACs," senior co−captain Andrea Ferri said. "This meet was more individual performances. We had great weather and good performances. A couple girls were injured, so it was too bad they weren't able to compete, but we were pleased overall with how we did."
Ferri led the way for Tufts at the competition, winning the heptathlon with a score of 4,353 points — 134 more than her previous high on the year. Ferri has slowly improved in the event at New Englands over the past few years, coming in third as a sophomore and second as a junior. This year, she finally got over the hump, besting her next−closest competitor by nearly 100 points.
"It was really exciting because I was competing against the same girls [as the past few years]," Ferri said. "I was really happy to finally beat them. My score overall was a [personal record (PR)], and that was exciting, but I can still do better — there are still two events I know I can improve in. But I can't complain — it was just satisfying to finally beat those girls."
Sophomore Dayorsha Collins also enjoyed a strong showing at the meet, winning the high jump with a height of 5'6'' — just one inch off Tufts' school record — and improving her NCAA provisional qualifying mark. She was originally tied with another athlete for first, so the two had to take part in a "jump−off" until one of them missed, in order to determine the event champion.
"I was really happy with [my jump] because it's was also a PR for me," Collins said. "And I have a better chance of going to nationals with that. I had to jump off against another girl because we were tied for first, so that was pretty intense."
Standout freshman Kelly Allen was the third and final Jumbo to win her event, as she took the discus throw with a distance of 140'9''.
Meanwhile, junior Amy Wilfert — a 2009 All−American in cross country who this year missed out on the honor by one place at indoor track and field nationals — ran an NCAA provisional time of 4:38.13 in the 1,500 −meter, earning her fifth place in the event.
"It's always exciting when you hit a national standard," Wilfert said. "I know it's not going to be good enough to travel [to nationals], but it's at least some place to start. I haven't raced the 1,500 since MIT, so it's been about two weeks."
Sophomores Heather Theiss and Nakeisha Jones also furthered Tufts' cause with their impressive finishes; Theiss cleared 11'7.75'' in the pole vault to tie for second in the event, while Jones' mark of 39.5' in the triple−jump earned her a runner−up finish as well.
The Jumbos rounded out their scoring with senior Julia Feltus, who took fourth in the hammer throw, and the 4x100−meter relay squad, which registered a seventh−place finish.
Tufts will continue its championship season next week when the Jumbos travel to Northeastern to take part in the Open New England Championships, in which Div. I, II and III schools compete. Last year, the Jumbos took 13th at the event, though the meet mostly serves as a chance to compete against high−level athletes and as another opportunity to register qualifying marks for NCAAs.
"It's not exactly focused on how the team does," Ferri said. "It's definitely more focused on individuals getting or improving their marks for NCAAs."
"It's just better competition — there's a lot of Div. I schools that will go," Wilfert added. "It's always promising when we do perform well [as a team], but in terms of team goals, we just want to get as many people as we can in the meet and have them perform well. If that happens, the team score will come anyways."
