WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Wellesley College track and field team opened the 2012 outdoor season with a strong performance at the Tufts Snowflake Classic Invitational.
Three Wellesley competitors recorded qualifying times for Division III New Englands and the ECAC Championships. Senior Leah Clement led the way with a first place finish in the 800-meter run, winning the event in a time of 2:15.87. Her time also qualified her to compete at the New England Intercollegiate Championship.
Also hitting qualifying times for the Blue were junior Camille Basurto and first-year Vanessa Wilkins, who both finished in the top-ten in the 5,000-meter event. Basurto placed fifth overall in 18:07.75, recording a new outdoor personal best. Wilkins took seventh place, running an 18:20.88, also a personal best.
Other highlights for the Blue included top-20 finishes from senior Cailey Stevens and first-year Alexandra Dunn in the 800, and a personal best time from Doris Berman in the 5,000. In the 1,500, the Blue had three runners making their first appearances in the event, with first-year Nicole Chui leading the way with a 29th place finish.
Sophomore Zoe Sobel topped her own school record in the triple jump, recording an attempt of 30' 2.25". Sobel and sophomore Sheena Dupuy also hit personal best times in the 200-meter event, both finishing fifth in their heats.
Rounding out the action, first-years Kathleen Hanlon and Monica Gates each finished in the top two of their heats in 400-meter race. Gates was making her first appearance as a member of the Blue track and field team.
Wellesley is back in action at UMass Lowell Invitational on Saturday.