SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Two medal-winning performances highlighted action for the Wellesley College track and field team at the 2013 ECAC Outdoor Championships. The event was hosted by Springfield College Thursday and Friday.
Senior Cristina Lucas had a stake in both of the Blue's podium finishes. Opening the day, she claimed fifth place in the 1,500-meter run, recording a career-best time of 4:34.76. Lucas then joined first-years Victoria Lee and Sharon Ng, and sophomore Alexandra Dunn, anchoring the team to a fifth place finish in the 4 x 800-meter relay. Their time of 9:27.27 set a new Wellesley record, besting the old mark of 9:27.43 set in 2010 (Boots, Bass, Clement, Shanley).
Wellesley recorded two other top-10 finishes at the event, as seniors Randelle Boots and Ada Smith both had solid performances. Boots placed ninth in the 1,500-meter event, recording a time of 4:36.47. Smith ranked 10th overall in the 5,000-meter run, finishing in 18:13.10 to close out her collegiate career with a personal best.
Rounding out the action for Wellesley, a trio of sophomores also represented the Blue at the event. Taylor Bickford ranked 20th in the steeplechase in 12:04.09, Kendra Waters placed 23rd in the 400-meter dash in 59.68, and Vanessa Wilkins finished 24th in the 5,000-meter run in 18:59.66.
Wellesley will now await selections to the 2013 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. The event is being hosted by Wisconsin-LaCrosse, May 23rd through the 24th and selections will be announced on Sunday morning on ncaa.com.
Coach John Babington and the record-setting 4 x 800m relay team
(L-R) Ng, Lucas, Babington, Dunn, Lee
