With both the University of Pennsylvania Relays and the Dartmouth Invitational taking place during the same weekend, members of the two track teams headed off for the weekend's competition in different directions.
Penn Relays
Twenty tracksters traveled to the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field last Thursday for the famous Penn Relays. The women's team sent five distance runners and five field competitors as well as a four by 400 relay team, while the men sent seven runners.
Women's co-Captain Kristin Manwaring '96 said that all the athletes went to the Relays in hopes of getting times that would qualify them for NCAA championships.
Manwaring missed a PR in the 1,500 meter by only two seconds with a 4:22. This, she said, should qualify her for NCAA's.
Maribel Sanchez '96 and Dierdre Milligan '98 also had strong performances and are likely to qualify. Recently back from an injury, Sanchez ran a 16:51 in the 5,000 meter. Milligan finished sixth among all collegiate athletes in the 10,000 meter with a 34:57.
On the field, co-Captain Amy Winchester '96 threw for 50 feet, 10 inches in the shotput. This throw was not only a PR, but also a likely qualifier.
Sarah Howald '96 threw 132 feet in the javelin. According to Manwaring, Howald's success this weekend at Heps will be important in the team's overall scoring.
The women's sole relay team consisted of Helen Sisti '96, Pilar Rodriguez '97, Melissa Rikard '99 and Katie Johnson '99.
Adam Nelson '97 was back in usual form on the field for the men. Nelson broke 60 feet and set a PR for the second time in two weeks with a throw of 61-6.25. So far this season his throws have consistently surpassed NCAA provisional standards and Olympic Trial provisional standards.
"Nelson was the highlight by far," men's Coach Barry Harwick said. According to a compilation of track results from around the country, Harwick said, Nelson currently holds the fifth best throw in the U.S.
Manwaring said that although none of the athletes felt the day went perfectly, they were still happy for the most part. "It wasn't perfect, but there were still a lot of qualifiers," she said.
Dartmouth Invitational
While most of those who went to Penn last week took the rest of the weekend off, other members of the Big Green track squads were in action in Hanover Sunday at the Dartmouth Invitational, competing against the University of Maine and Keene State.
The highlight for the men came when Bill Tsiaras '99 finished in 15:03 in the 5,000 meter. This was a PR for Tsiaras.
"The past couple of races have been cold," he said. "It was nice to enjoy the warmer weather."
He attributed his run in large part to his recent intense training. "I have been training hard, so I expected to bring down my time. I'm looking forward to Heps," he said.
Also running well for the men was Eric Szegda '97, who won the 200 meter.
For the women, Anne Devlin '99 turned in a strong showing in the 1,500 meter, winning with a 4:54.
The Invitational "was very small today," Harwick said.
Manwaring said the squads are looking forward to Heptagonals this weekend at Yale. At Heps they will compete against all the Ivy League teams in addition to Navy.
