April 10, 2010

Ephs Notch Qualifiers at UMass Invite

Amherst, MA--The Eph women had their post-training trip debut today at UMass Amherst, where several athletes took to the track in fine form to achieve qualifiers for Division III New Englands and other championship races.

Amid the bright sunny weather, the wind proved to be the greatest challenge to athletes seeking qualifying performances, and the gusts made for some slower times on the oval. The Williams athletes pushed through to accomplish what they came to do, achieving 25 Division III qualifiers and several athletes qualifying for other championship meets.

In the throws, Eileen Becker ’12 and Madeline Watson ’12 both qualified for Div. IIIs in the shot put, with Becker throwing 11.57m and Watson throwing 10.85m. Watson also qualified in the discus, throwing 34.03m, alongside Jasmine Adekoya ’13, who threw 33.54m. Adekoya also earned a qualifying mark in the hammer throw. In the javelin, Julia Cohan ’10 threw 31.69m, earning a Div. III qualifier.

The Eph jumpers also had a successful day, with Karyn Moss ’12 jumping 10.86m in the triple and 4.86m in the long jump, and Brooke Johnson ’13 jumping 10.79m and 4.98m in the same events. In the pole vault, Casey Evans ’13 qualified for Div. IIIs as she cleared 2.75m.

In the running events, Sarah Tory ’11 had her junior year track debut after competing for the Nordic ski team in the winter. She finished 2^nd in the 3k steeplechase with a solid time of 11:31.87. Meghan Shea ’11 earned a Div. III qualifying time in the same event.

Annie Dear ’13 returned from injury to finish first for Williams in the 1500, running 4:50.15 and holding her own in a field of stiff Division I competition. Ariel Williams ’10 locked down a qualifier in the 800m, running 2:21.33.

Hillary Higgs ’12 proved to be a force to reckon with, as usual, finishing fourth in the 400m and winning the 200m, with times of 59.81 and 25.79. Lizzy Danhakl ’11, normally a mid-distance runner specializing in the 800m, tested her speed in the 400m dash today, showing her versatility and earning a Div. III qualifying time.

Elise Johnson ’10 won the 100m hurdles in 14.22, and doubled in the 400m hurdles to qualify for Div. III New Englands. Nora Mitchell ’10 ran 66.92 in the 400m hurdles, finishing 7^th, and Maya Harakawa ’12 also qualified for Div. IIIs.

In the second-to-last event of the day, five athletes ran strategic races in the 5k after a long day of waiting for their event. Tina Meade ’11 finished 4^th in a field of 24, running 18:18.99. Blair Robinson ’13 made her first appearance in track after competing for the Nordic ski team this winter. She ran an outstanding qualifying time of 18:37.62, followed by Elly Teitsworth ’10 in 18:49.87 and Lauren Goldstein-Kral ’12 in 18:57.22. Grace Babula ’12 had her best college race yet, cutting a minute off of her 5k PR from the indoor season and running 19:15.64.

Next weekend the Ephs will kick off the championship season as they host the Little Three Championship, against rivals Wesleyan and Amherst.