Four members of the Tufts women's track and field team will travel to North Central College in Naperville, Illinois this weekend for the NCAA Division III National Championships.
Junior Jana Hieber will compete in the pentathlon for the Jumbos. Her season best 3287 points ranks 13th nationally, and she is no stranger to performing on the biggest stage. This will be her third straight appearance at the NCAA Div. III Indoor Championships after earning a career?best 3,401 in the pentathlon to place third in the meet last year.
Hieber will be joined at the meet by the senior throwing trio of Kelly Allen, RonkeOyekunle and Sabienne Brutus, who will look to validate their four years as part of the Jumbos' program.
"After four years of hard work, we're seniors, and we want to leave on a good note," Brutus said.
Allen's season?best throw of 45 feet 6 and one quarter inches in the shot put ranks No. 11 nationally, and her best throw of 57 feet even in weight throw ranks ninth nationally. Allen also brings experience to the meet, having competed in both events at the Championships last year.
Oyekunle will join her in both throwing events, as she ranks 13th nationally in shot put and 12th in the weight throw, while Brutus will be the highest?ranked Jumbo competing with a season?best toss of 58 feet 1 inch in the weight throw that ranks sixth in the country.
This meet is something that these athletes have been working towards and looking forward to for a long time.
"You make sure you do your best at every meet, so when you get to Nationals it's something that you're used to doing," Brutus said. "Going to Nationals is a big deal."
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