SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The Wellesley College track and field team finished sixth overall at the 2013 NEWMAC Championships, held on Saturday on the campus of Springfield College. The Blue amassed 51 team points, despite entering only one competitor in a field event.
Wellesley recorded eight finishes in the top five at the event, including two in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and two in the 5,000-meter run. Overall, the Blue scored in nine of the 13 events they contested, with 17 team members contributing to the team score. Nine new championship meet qualifiers and three school records rounded out the highlights for Wellesley.
In the steeplechase, all three of Wellesley's competitors finished in the top-10, led by sophomore Taylor Bickford's third place finish. Bickford finished in 11:55.33 and was Wellesley's highest placing competitor. Sophomore Nicole Chui also scored for the Blue, finishing fifth in 12:20.74, while first-year Madeline Gorchels ranked 10th overall.
Racing in the 5,000, sophomore Vanessa Wilkins and senior Ada Smith finished back-to-back, placing fourth and fifth overall. Wilkins recorded a time of 18:25.29, while Smith finished in 18:38.96. Also recording a top-10 finish in the event was first-year Priyanka Fouda who placed seventh in 18:59.66. First-year Carolyn Chelius also ran the event, ranking 13th.
Wellesley entered four racers in both the 800-meter and 1,500-meter events, with all eight finishing in the top-13. In the 800, senior Cristina Lucas led the way, ranking fourth overall (2:17.69), followed by first-year Sharon Ng (8th- 2:20.79), sophomore Alexandra Dunn (9th- 2:20.90) and first-year Victoria Lee (12th- 2:22.80). In the 1,500, Lucas again led the pack, finishing fourth in 4:38.93. Senior Randelle Boots finished sixth overall in 4:42.46, followed by junior Jane Lodwick (12th) and first-year Alessandra Gavin (13th).
Rounding out the top-five finishes were sophomore Kendra Waters and first-year Caitlin Bailey. Waters ranked fourth overall in the 400-meter dash in 59.58, while Bailey finished fifth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:08.56), and set a new school record of 17.66 in the 100-meter hurdles. Waters led a pack of four Wellesley runners and was followed by senior Eden Bass (12th), first-year Jessica Saifee (14th) and junior Sarah Roundy (15th).
Wellesley placed two other runners in the top-10 at the event, both competing in the 10,000-meter race. First-year Laura Brindley ranked seventh overall, while junior Ali Grzywna finished eighth.
Wrapping up the individual competitors for Wellesley, sophomore Kathleen Hanlon, junior Sheena Dupuy and first-year Emma Kissane competed in the sprints. Hanlon led the way with 13th (200m dash) and 14th (100m dash) place finishes. Hanlon's 100m dash time was a new Wellesley record.
In the relay events, the Blue finished sixth in the 4x400m (4:12.11) and ranked eighth in the 4x100m (52.12). The 4x400m relay team was made up of Ng, Kissane, Hanlon and Waters, while the 4x400m relay ream of Dupuy, Kissane, Hanlon and Waters set a new Wellesley record with their time.
Wellesley track and field returns to action next weekend at the New England Championships. The event is being hosted by Colby College.
Wellesley Championship Meet Qualifiying Times Hit or Exceeded at NEWMACs
3,000 m. Steeplechase
Taylor Bickford 11:55.33
- improves NE DIII seed time and qualifies for ECAC Div. III Championship
Nicole Chui 12:20.74
- qualifies for New England Div. III Championship
1500 m.
Cristina Lucas 4:38.93
- Improves seed time for DIII & ECAC and qualifies for New England Intercollegiate Championship
Randelle Boots 4:42.46
- Qualifies for New England & ECAC Div. III Championships
400 m.
Kendra Waters 59.58
- Improves NE DIII seed time and qualifies for ECAC Div. III Championship
800 m.
Cristina Lucas 2:17.69
- Improves NE DIII seed time and qualifies for ECAC Div. III Championship
Sharon Ng 2:20.79
- Qualifies for New England Div. III Championship
Ali Dunn 2:20.90
- Improves NE DIII seed time
400 m. Hurdles
Caitlin Bailey 68.56
- Qualifies for New England Div. III Championship
5,000 m.
Vanessa Wilkins 18:25.29
- Qualifies for New England Div. III Championship