Taking on Div. I at BU
Women’s Track & Field hold their own
The MIT Women’s Track and Field team was back in action at Boston University for the second time in three weeks, and the Engineers were once again up to the challenge of competing with some of the top athletes in New England, including a number of Division I competitors. The Engineers achieved seven different NCAA-level performances while narrowly missing a few more in its final weekend of competition before the Division III New England Championship.
Perhaps the most impressive showing came from the 4x400 meter relay squad of Jamie L. Simmons ’12, Hazel L. Briner ’11, Martha M. Gross ’12, and Portia M. Jones ’12. The group, which already holds the MIT record in the event, placed fifth with a time that was slower than only a couple Division I and II teams. Finishing in 3:52.35, MIT automatically qualified for next month’s NCAA Division III Championship.
Karin E. Fisher ’11 continued to pile up outstanding efforts in the pole vault: the senior has won the event in four of the five meets she has competed in this year. Fisher (12-5.50 feet) and teammate Briner (11-11.75 feet) finished one-two in the event and each reached the NCAA provisional standard in the process. Lauren B. Kuntz ’13 tied for fourth with a vault of 10-11.75 feet.
Jones, Simmons, and Gross also took part in the 400 meter and posted times nearly as strong as their relay splits. Jones finished sixth overall with an NCAA provisional time of 56.80 seconds, just 0.05 seconds off the automatic standard. Simmons also had a provisional qualifier with her time of 58.53 seconds, good for 22nd overall. Gross completed the two-lap race in 1:01.26, and Megan E. Bumgarner ’14 was just behind with a time of 1:01.45.
Other NCAA qualifying marks came from Amy R. Magnuson G in the 60-meter hurdles (9.20 seconds) and Louise E. van den Heuvel ’14, who continues to improve quickly in the mile with a personal best time of 5:03.98.
Jacqueline A. Brew ’14 posted a personal best and the second-fastest time in Institute history in the 200 meter (26.10 seconds) while Olivia J. Papa ’14 also set an individual record in the 800 meter (2:20.37).
The entire team will return to the Shobrys and Aronson Track for the NCAA Division III New England Championship next week.