The women's track and field team has not seen as much success at Nationals in recent years as it may have liked, but senior tri-captain Sarah Crispin and juniors Cat Beck, Katy O'Brien and Kaleigh Fitzpatrick are hoping to change that at this weekend's 2007 NCAA Div. III Indoor Championships, held at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind.
The foursome will compete in today's Distance Medley Relay, with Beck competing in the open 5k tomorrow.
Last year's DMR team - composed of Crispin, Beck, O'Brien and then-freshman Aubrey Wasser - placed 10th at the meet in Northfield, Minn., running 12:29.95. Fitzpatrick ran in the 4x400 relay, and also cracked the top 10.
"I think we're all pretty experienced with Nationals competition," Beck said. "We've all been here three times before. In the past, we've come away unsatisfied from the experience, but we're all really excited this year to go out there. We're confident in our training up to this point, so the goal is really just to feel good this week. We're ready to go out there and race."
This year's DMR team has already surpassed last year's mark, automatically qualifying for Nationals with a time of 11:39.08. Because the qualifier was run on BU's banked track, which allows for faster times, the Jumbos' mark has been adjusted to 11:41.48, earning them a second seed just behind Wisconsin Platteville's foursome of sophomores Bobbi Arand, Emma Dreis and Jessica Scott and senior Marcia Taddy, whose clip of 11:40.45 was the only other automatic qualifier this season.
"We know it's going to be really competitive," Fitzpatrick said. "We know we have to come and really step up, but we're really confident with our lineup. [We're all] very tough competitors and we know we'll give it all we have when we get there. We're all very strong runners, and if it comes down to the line, I think we can push through."
In terms of preparation, the Jumbo runners have laid off the physical training and are focusing more on mental preparation instead.
"We've been trying to keep it really low key," Beck said. "It's a tough week academic-wise, but now that all the school work is done, we're just trying to relax and get comfortable in our surroundings and get ready to run."
"You just have to stay focused and have faith in yourself, your training and your teammates," Fitzpatrick said. "You just have to go out, give it all you've got, and just hope for the best. It's all about drive and determination, and that's really what it comes down to. Otherwise, we're trying to eat well and stay healthy and get a lot of rest."
Though other members of the DMR team qualified provisionally for different events, Beck will be the Jumbos' only representative in the open events this weekend.
"We decided to really go out for the DMR on Friday and all be fresh for it," Beck said. "The 5k is one of the only races that runs on Saturday."
After anchoring a DMR team, Beck will return the next day as the top seed in the 5k race. Beck's mark of 18:07.50 earned her a 13th place showing at last year's meet, but her considerably faster automatic qualifier for the race this year leaves her seeded in first place. Beck's adjusted time of 16:45.53 is more than eleven seconds faster than that of SUNY Plattsburgh's junior Toni Wiszowaty, who is seeded second and qualified with an adjusted time of 16:56.11. With the odds in her favor, Beck hopes to finish ahead of the pack.
"I'm excited for that opportunity," Beck said. "It should be an interesting experience."
While the DMR team has been getting settled in Indiana, it is still keeping its eye on the top spot.
"We'd love to get a National championship," Fitzpatrick said. "Just to come out here and be with this caliber of athletes is really a great experience. We're having a lot of fun so far, so it should be great."
