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

Despite roster turnover, Jumbos look to regain form

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The experienced women's track distance group will look to carry a young Jumbo squad.

The women's track and field team returns to the oval this Saturday for the first Tufts Invitational of the season held at the Gantcher Center. Tufts lost important athletes to study abroad this semester, so the team will be missing many key players in its winter and spring seasons. Nevertheless, coach Kristen Morwick will have the Jumbos geared and ready to go when the championship season rolls around.

The Jumbos' distance squad was hit particularly hard by study abroad losses; junior Audrey Gould, who has a 17:09.09 outdoor 5,000-meter personal record, which she set en route to placing second overall at last spring's Open New England Championships, and junior Olivia Beltrani, who was the Jumbos' No. 3 runner in cross country this fall, are both absent this semester. However, the team will return a strong contingent of runners, including sophomore All-American Kelly Fahey, who placed 31st at XC Nationals in the fall. With an 18:18.20 5,000-meter personal record from last spring, Fahey will look to improve on that mark and maintain Tufts' distance running success on the track. Also returning is sophomore Alice Wasserman, who has improved mightily since last spring, claiming the No. 4 spot on the cross country team this fall.

"We undoubtedly lost some talent to abroad on the distance side, but I think it's really opened up the field for our team to step up," junior mid-distance runner Sydney Smith said. "The sophomores in particular have come into the season ready to roll, so I think we could see some great performances from them as they fill the shoes of people who have graduated and people who have gone abroad."

On the mid-distance side, the team figures to have a strong season despite losing junior Hanako Shigenobu. Smith returns as one of the top mid-distance runners in New England, with a 2:15.99 800-meter personal best from last spring. She, as well as senior Lauren Gormer, are part of a strong group consisting of senior Isa Cuervo, sophomore Sam Cox, and a number of first-years.

Junior Alexis Harrison takes the reigns from Anya Kaufmann (E '14) and Jana Hieber (LA '14) as the top sprinter for the Jumbos this season. Harrison, who qualified last spring for the NCAA Div. III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 100 meters, will look to qualify for indoor nationals this season. Junior Marilyn Allen, the team's top hurdler, also returns and looks to regain her pristine form after breaking the nine-second barrier in the 60-meter hurdles last winter. They will be supported by sophomores Rita Donohoe, Bianca Rescalvo and Hannah Loss, who showed big improvements from last indoor season to last outdoor season. The sprint squad may not be as strong as it was last year, but the group will still be counted on to score at major meets.

"Anya and Jana  will be missed, but their lessons and determination are echoed within the team," Harrison said. "I do think that the sprinters can rebuild to that level as long as we stay healthy and focused. Right now we have a young team, and I see a lot of potential within it. The freshmen class brings an eagerness to learn and improve everyday at practice, and I'm excited to see them progress over the season and the continued impact they'll have on the team."

The Jumbos lost the majority of their jumping squad to graduation last spring, but they still have proven veterans and talented first-years to lead the way. Sophomore Keren Hendel returns as the school record holder in the pole vault, and she will be looking to build upon her mark in the new year.

The throwers also lost a key player to graduation, Robin Armstrong (LA '14). This leaves a very young group; sophomore Bailey Conner, the team's top returning thrower, heads a squad of mostly first-years in what looks to be the biggest question mark for Tufts.

After a long offseason, the Jumbos will debut this Saturday at the Gantcher Center for the first Tufts Invitational of the season. Field events kick off at 10:00 am. However, the Jumbos' focus this season will be on the Div. III New England Championships, held in February.

"We're looking to stay in the top three teams at Div. III New Englands, and are also looking to qualify our relays as well as a strong group of individual competitors well into the post-season," Smith said.