Sports Briefs

Author: Dickie Redmond

TRACK & FIELD TEAM RACKS UP NESCAC HONORS

After a successful run at the NESCAC Championships hosted by Connecticut College, the Middlebury track & field team earned over 20 all-NESCAC Honors. First-year Michael Schmidt '12 claimed the Rookie of the Year title with an outstanding performance in the 10,000 meter race. The rookie placed first in the event for the Panthers with a time of 32:09.82 - winning the NESCAC title.

In order to receive NESCAC honors, athletes must finish in the top three in their event. Team members Kelly Coughlan '09 and Kaitlyn Saldanha '11 exceeded this base requirement in their individual contests, winning both of their events and NESCAC honors. Saldanha set a conference record and qualified for the NCAA's with her 800m run in an impressive time of 2:12.12. Coughlan won the triple jump event with a 38'5" effort - gaining her a spot at the NCAAs as well.

To add to the 20 plus list of honorees, Coach Martin Beatty shared the women's coach of the year award with his peer from Williams. Coach Beatty is no stranger to coaching honors. The '84 Middlebury grad has coached the Panthers for 22 years and earned NESCAC coach of the year honors in '05. Additionally, Beatty was named NCAA New England regional coach of the year - in both '98 and '00 - after leading the women's team to NESCAC Championship titles. This year, the veteran coach has earned honors for his effort in steering the women's team to a second place finish at the NESCACs.

WOMEN'S AND MEN'S LACROSSE RECEIVE AT-LARGE BIDS FOR NCAA TOURNEY

The women's and men's lacrosse teams were proud to hear that their seasons will continue into the NCAA tournament this year after both teams lost in the NESCAC semifinals. The Panther laxers hope to advance far in the tourney as they play for the Division III title.

This marks the 16th consecutive NCAA appearance for the women's anthers, who lost this past weekend to Colby in the conference semifinals. The team hosted an opening round on Wednesday against Keene State and the winner advances to the regional match-up against Colby on Saturday. The Panthers look to fight back against the Mules, drawing on their extensive NCAA experience. The women's team has a .778 winning percentage in the tournament, second only to TCNJ in the history of D-III lacrosse.

The men's lax team has similar NCAA experience with 12 consecutive tournament appearances. The Panthers, who lost in a heartbreaking OT game against Wesleyan last weekend, are 27-9 in tournament play - topping all other D-III schools with a .750 winning percentage. Men's lacrosse is looking forward to hosting the winner of Nazareth and St. Lawrence in the second round of the NCAA tourney on Saturday at 1pm.