Track stars turn attention to NESCACs Panthers turn in solid marks during Dartmouth Invitational

Author: Zamir Ahmed

The Middlebury outdoor track team wrapped up a successful regular season on April 23 at their sixth meet of the season, the non-scoring Dartmouth Invitational. There, the Panthers took on a number of regional and NESCAC rivals as well as a couple of Division I schools, host college Dartmouth and the University of New Hampshire, while also braving the cold and daylong rain. The meet was the last chance for athletes to qualify for the NESCAC Championship, which is scheduled for April 30 at Colby College.

The women's team was paced at the meet by their two Co-captains Melissa Thacker '05 and Alli Williams '05, who finished second and fifth in the 400m hurdles, respectively. First-year Sarah Wilson also looked in fine form for NESCACs, taking third in the pole vault by clearing a height of 3.06 meters, while Renee Courchesne '05 also added a bronze in the discus with a throw of 35.59 meters.

The top finish for the men's team was put up by Kevin Bright '06 in the 400m hurdles. Bright, who last year was seeded first in the event at NESCACs but was denied a chance to compete because of a knee injury, won the race by one-10th of a second in a time of 54.24 seconds. Bright also teamed up with Co-captain Nick Digani '05, and first-years Patrick Swan and David LaRocca to run the 4x400m relay. The team looked ready for the upcoming championships as they took gold in the event with a time of 3:18.65.

The impressive performances did not at stop there. Steve Atkinson '06 continued a terrific spring season by taking second in the javelin and fourth in the high jump while Conor O'Neill '07 added a silver in the 800m with a time of 1:57.34.The Panthers' other relay team on the day, the 4x100m team of Bright, Swan, Greg Lazerus '06 and Co-captain Liam Aiello '05, also took second in their event, stopping the clock at 42.79 seconds.

The Panthers will next head north to Maine for the NESCAC Championships, held on the April 30 at Colby. The women's team will look to improve on their showing from last year - a third place finish at Trinity College. "Our goal this year is to be in the top three," said Williams. "Williams College is always really good but we have a good chance at challenging the rest of the field."

The men's team will be gearing up for NESCACs with the belief that they can capture the title. "The men's team is the strongest that I have ever seen since I have been at Middlebury," said Williams. "They have a strong chance of challenging for the win."

The Panthers are already pleased with their performance so far this season, competing strongly in their meets so far and especially against a number of larger and traditionally stronger schools. "It has been a great season," said Williams. "The men's team has been impressive, with a number of strong first-years who have done well. The women's team has had good energy during our rebuilding year. We have some good first-years who will be good in coming years."