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The Tufts Daily
Where you read it first | Friday, March 29, 2024

Women's Track and Field | Gould, Hieber, Harrison, compete in Nebraska

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Three women's track team members wrapped up their season at the NCAA Div. III Championships last weekend in Lincoln, Neb. Each athlete earned her ticket to the Devaney Center by setting a nationally ranked mark (top 15) in her event during the 2014 indoor season.

In the meet, Tufts finished 14th after the first day, but ended the competition in 32nd place overall. Their standing is more indicative of the low number of athletes who competed than their performances, which were impressive.

Senior Jana Hieber concluded her senior indoor campaign by placing third overall in the women's pentathlon with a new school record of 3,691 points. This topped her old school record of 3,644 points that she set at the Tufts Stampede Invitational in January, on a day in which she virtually competed against herself.

Hieber began the day placing sixth overall in the 60-meter hurdles, as she ran a time of 9.06 to set a season best. It was Tufts' second fastest time in the event this season, trailing only 60-meter hurdle specialist and school record holder, sophomore Marilyn Allen.

In the high jump, Hieber cleared 5' 1.75" for eighth overall, giving her 701 more points towards her pentathlon score. She next ventured into the thrower's circle for the shot-put portion of the program, and placed 11th overall by heaving the weight 32' 10.5" across the infield. This mark was only 1 1/2" away from her season-best mark, which she set at the Stampede.

Later, Hieber competed in one of her best events, the long jump, but was slightly off her game as she jumped 17' 8.25" for third in the competition. She was 14 centimeters off her personal best, which she set this year.

"I had a really good day in the hurdles, where I [set a personal record], and [had] solid days in the long jump and high jump," Hieber said. "The shot put could've been better but overall, it was fine. I just always want to do better."

Hieber saved her best performance of the day for last in the 800-meter. Hieber obliterated her previous personal record of 2:17.86 with a 2:14.90 performance that gave her the victory in the event by over 1.5 seconds, sealing her third place finish. Hieber went out in 66 seconds for the first 400 meters, and closed in roughly 68 seconds.

"The 800 was definitely not expected." Hieber said. "It was the last race of my senior indoor career, which I think unleashed an extra storage of energy in me that definitely gave me a boost on the last lap. Although the time wasn't expected, I definitely was hoping to run close to it because my 400 splits in relays over the past few weeks have been very solid."

Sophomore sprinter Alexis Harrison and sophomore distance runner Audrey Gould competed in their first Nationals. Harrison competed in the 60-meter dash and placed 16th overall in the preliminary round, running a time of 7.81 for fourth place in her heat. This time was just off of her season-best time of 7.78 that she set at Div. III New Englands last month. She failed to advance to the final.

Gould, who qualified for the 5000 final by running a time of 17:20.32 at the BU Valentine Invitational last month, had an impressive race, running a time of 17:25.80 to secure 12th place.

"The experience was amazing," Harrison told the Daily in an email. "The meet venue and the campus were both really nice. My goal going into Nationals was to run a [personal record] and make the finals. Even though I was unable to achieve those goals I still had a lot of fun and I hope to make Nationals this outdoor season as well."

The Jumbos will have their next full force ready for action at the annual Tufts Snowflake Classic, held this Saturday at the Ellis Oval, which will kick off the outdoor season.

"This outdoor season, I will be focusing on the 400-meter hurdles and, like every other athlete on this team, I want to PR, finish my season off with good performances and keep the momentum going from indoors," Hieber said.

The defending outdoor NESCAC champion Jumbos return a squad that is among the top of the league - and prepared to stay there.

"As a team we have to make sure that we stay focused and work hard everyday at practice to produce some strong performances at NESCACs." Harrison said.