The “Laps to Go” sign is set to its highest possible value in anticipation of the first event of the day. The gun for the 10K is about to go off, and the sign reads a daunting 25. The 10,000m race, which is approximately 6.2 miles, is just as much about mental stamina as it is about physical stamina. Running it last year, I found it excruciatingly difficult not to curl up in a ball in lane three when I’d already run two miles but the sign still read “17 laps to go.”
But Anna Laurence ‘16, Ariana Beers ’16 and Nicole Adam ‘16 proved their fortitude, coming in first, second and third place, respectively, and all three qualifying for the New England Division III Championship meet. With times of 40:26, 41:20 and 41:26, they were averaging approximately 6.5-minute miles. Laurence highlighted the mental aspect of the race, saying, “Running 40 minutes around the track can get monotonous, but if you go into it with the right mindset, and take it one lap at a time, it really isn’t as bad as it seems.” The 10K set the tone for the rest of the day, a day that resulted in numerous top finishes and culminated with the Conn Women winning the eight team meet.
In the 5K, Emily Winter ‘16 placed first with a time of 19:16. Bella Franz ’16 and Caroline Leonard ’16 went one-two in the 800m, both qualifying for the NE DIIIs with times of 2:16 and 2:18. In the 1500m, Ashley Curran ’17 and Kelsey McGinnis ’17 placed fourth and sixth, respectively. In the field events, Lauren Kennedy ‘17 placed third in the javelin, with Sam Pevear ‘15 placing first in the discus and then third in the hammer throw. Alex Cammarata ’14 placed third in the long jump and sixth in the triple jump. These scores, along with many more, led Conn to its 134-point victory.
This meet was a perfect example of how every point, every single second, matters. Entering the last event of the day, the 4×800 relay, Conn was tied with Roger Williams. Ashley Curran described the climatic finish of the meet in which Anna Guay ’17 passed the anchor leg of the Roger Williams team in the last 200 meters, beating them by two seconds and placing one spot higher. This strong finish led Conn to win the meet by one point.
Winter pointed out that the home meet was but one highlight of an overall great season. She explained that this season the team has a greater breadth in talent when compared to years past, and that the Women’s team depth across events has strongly contributed to their success. Franz expressed her excitement for the upcoming championship meets and the opportunity for the team to have strong competition so that she can be pushed to perform at her best.
The team is heavily comprised of first-years and sophomores, and thus it is exciting to contemplate not only the improvements that have occurred this season, as there have been numerous personal records set and reset, but also the growth that will occur in the coming years. Adam highlighted the dedication of her teammates, saying, “I’ve never been part of a team as motivated and driven as the one this year.” With a high bar set this season, it seems that the Women’s Track Team has much to look forward to.
