In Final Meet, Senior Trackers Shine

Author: Erich Kahner

Seniority ruled for the Middlebury men and women's track team last weekend at the New England Division III Track and Field Championships, held in Springfield, Mass. With their college careers coming to a close, the senior members of the team were able to put together one of their finest meets as Panthers.

"We are all really happy to see our seniors ending their careers with some great postseason performances," head coach Martin Beatty stated. "The members of this senior class have established themselves as some of the best in New England."

Recently the twice-crowned NESCAC champion in the javelin, Bryan Black '02 added another victory to his resume with a throw of 209'08". The win came as no big surprise for teammates and competitors alike — Black is currently the favorite to capture the Division III national title in the javelin.

Heidi Rothrock '02 blazed a new trail for Middlebury athletes by surpassing all nine barriers in the 100-meter hurdles faster than any Panther has done before. Rothrock's time of 15.37 seconds set a new Middlebury Collegl record and secured the senior fourth place and all-New England Honors, since a finish of eighth or better qualifies a competitor for this high accolade.

Andrew Boyer '02 continued to place himself in track's upper echelon of speed with a time of 15.32 seconds in the men's 110-meter high hurdles. Boyer's effort was good enough for a fifth place finish. Joseph Lewis '02 defied his pre-race fourteenth seed in the 800-meter run and established himself as one of the best in New England. Lewis' sixth place finish came in lieu of a lifetime best 1:56.32 seconds over the half-mile course.

Meredith Bazirgan '02 added to the crew of seniors making great strides, as she crushed her old personal best by over three seconds in the women's 800-meter run. In doing so, Bazirgan placed fifth with her time of 2:16.97. With a hop, skip and a jump, Yuri Lawrence '02 soared to a fourth place finish in the men's triple jump.

Sophomores Sara Smith, Mike DeLeo and junior Adrianna Logalbo joined the senior contingent on the all-New England team. Smith equaled a season best of 10'00" to place seventh in the women's pole vault, while Logalbo, a provisional qualifier for the national championships, was nearly able to equal her spectacular effort from last week with a time of 2:15.31 and a third place finish. DeLeo also hammered out an 11.4 second effort to place eighth in the men's 100-meter dash.

Several relay members were able to team up and produce top-notch performances. The men's 4x100 meter relay rode their fluid baton passes and fast feet to yet another accolade. Their time of 42.77 seconds was good enough for fifth. The team consisted of now all-New England competitors Liam Aiello '05, DeLeo, Craig Pittman '04 and Anthony Garafano '04. Moriah Cooperson '02 and Jessica Manzer '05 helped Logalbo and Bazirgan propel the women's 4x400 meter relay to a strong seventh place finish.

Middlebury's output last weekend echoed the accomplishments of the entire team throughout the year. Distance coach Nicole Wilkerson helped to put the superb season in perspective.

"I think both our men's and women's teams had a great season," Wilkerson remarked. "Each meet became more and more exciting as personal goals were met and surpassed."

The captains (Christy Logue '02, Bazirgan, Black and Lewis) were integral parts of the team's many successes, Wilkerson added. "They deserve a special thanks for their dedication, enthusiasm and time."

Overall last weekend, the women's team finished in position 15 out of the 27 schools that competed, and the men's team finished eleventh in a field of 23. Over the next two weeks, the Open New England and Eastern Coast Athletic Conference championships will play host to competition that contains the same core group of Panthers. Manzer and Logalbo are sitting on possible bids to the national championships, while Michaela Adrian''03 and Black are already locks, having been among the top competitors in the country in their events. Several other Middlebury track athletes have the next two weeks to win the right to join them.