Schedule
of Events
HADLEY, Mass. – Connecticut College will serve as
host for the 2009 NESCAC Men's and Women's Track & Field
Championships this Saturday at the Silfen Field complex in New
London, Conn. The competition will begin at 9:00 AM.
Williams has won 14 of the last 16 men’s titles outright,
sharing the 2007 crown with Tufts, while the Eph women will be in
search of their ninth consecutive title and 17th in championship
history. The Eph men's team has won 18 of the 23 NESCAC titles
contested to date, while the Eph women's team has won 16 of
23.
The Eph recipe for success at the NESCAC Championships in both the
men's and women's competitions has been depth and that formula
appears to be well fortified again this season. "As we saw last
week at the Little Threes and at the Indoor New Englands this men's
team has shown an ability to come together and bring their best
performances when it counts and that can put us over the top," said
head men's and women's coach Fletcher Brooks. A key to success will
be to "pick up lots of 3rd-6th place finishes to compliment the top
placers we anticipate," stated Brooks.
Last year Williams came away with the 2008 men's championship by
scoring 195 points. The Ephs picked up valuable points in the short
distance events, as senior Deividas Seferis (Klaipeda, Lithuania)
won the 200 while placing second in the. Seferis also led the Ephs
to the 400 title, as his team earned the top four finishes in the
race.
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| Deividas Seferis '09 |
Seferis, known as "Lithium," recently returned to campus from
Lithuania, having left campus to attend a funeral. "Deividas is
expected to compete in the 100, 200 & 4x100," noted Brooks.
"Coach Joel Williams [sprints] is confident Lithium is ready for
his long awaited return to the track and he has looked great the
last few days."
Asked if he thought the expected unseasonably warm weather
projected for tomorrow would be a factor, Brooks said, "for the
athletes running less than 800m it generally helps a lot, but for
those running a 5k or 10k it can really make things tough."
Some experienced Ephs who have shown consistent efforts this
season who may have a lot to say about the team score are mid
distance runners Macklin Chaffee, Brian Cole, sprinter Taylor
Fitzgerald, and long distance freshman Anthony Radauzo
The Ephs also have three relatively new team members who have
opened a lot of eyes this spring in junior Pierre Meloty-Kapella
(sprints) and sophomore Geoff Rodriquez first year thrower Rusty
Cowher.
On the women’s side, Williams collected 160.5 points to
claim the 2008 NESCAC championship, while Tufts (120) finished as
the runner-up for the fifth time in the last six years.
One of the Eph team's greatest attributes is its toughness. "The
resilience of the women's team is a huge factor," noted Brooks.
"These young women know how bounce back when things don't go as
planned because they know they can come back and improve
later."
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| (L.to R.) Lizzy Danhakl, Olga Kondratjeva & Sara Wild |
For Brooks the key for the Ephs securing a ninth straight NESCAC
title, "is to score in just about every event we have an athlete
entered in."
Long distance runner Lauren Philbrook, steepler Meghan Shea, and
middle distance runners Sara Wild, and Lizzy Danhakl are expected
to be top performers for the Ephs, but they will receive a lot of
support from junior Elise Johnson, first years Hillary Higgs,
Kelsey Ham and Maya Harakawa.
Harakawa will be running the 400h and relays. "Maya came in as a
solid athlete and has fast proven that she can help us in races
from the 100h to the 4x800 relay," said Brooks.
"Elise Johnson, Hillary Higgs and Kelsey Ham -- The "Big 3" (like
Jordan, Pippen & Rodman) as coach Williams calls them will each
compete in four or five events," stated Brooks and more if
needed. Johnson -- 100, 100h, 200 & 4x100, Higgs -- 100,
200, 400 & 4x100, and Ham 100, 200, 400, Long Jump & 4x100.
"All three could end up in the 4x400 at the end of the meet if the
meet comes down to that relay," Brooks said.
