Highlights from the Wesleyan Invitational

The track and field team returned to campus last Monday, January 7, to begin its J-term schedule of double practices, meets every Saturday, and lots of quality time together.... On Saturday, January 12, they competed in the Wesleyan Invitational, which was an unscoring meet, but scored big points with us for being the fastest indoor track meet EVER.  Yes, it was too bad that not enough athletes signed up for the 5k or 3k, but we were back on campus by 4pm--yessssss!!!!

There were several notable performances at the meet, including two big personal records: Senior Kirsten Silfvenius ran 9.45 seconds in the 60m hurdles, and junior Maya Rittmanic (freshly back from studying abroad in Amsterdam) high jumped 1.63m (5'4.25").  Not bad for the first meet of 2013.

Other notables: new thrower Atema Addy, after only 5 days of practice (ever), shot putted  a respectable 7.21m; first year runner Brianna Jackson took a second off of her 400m time; and first year jumper Lauren Tom jumped 22cm more than she did at the Smith Invite in early December.

These performances bode well for more good things to come.

After every meet, the team nominates the Track Athlete of the Meet, Field Athlete of the Meet, and Teammate of the Meet.  Here they are, pictured below: Maya Rittmanic (field athlete of the meet. looking unmistakably buff), Grace Maliska & Meadeshia Mitchell (teammates of the meet), and Brianna Jackson (track athlete of the meet...sorry about the red-eye...).

 The team's next meet is at home this coming Saturday, January 19.  Please come support the team!

Indoor Track Season Begins!

Smith College Track and Field had its first meet of the season on Saturday, December 1 at Smith.  

It was perfect weather...for indoor track.

Kristen flies.... 

Kristen, Lauren, Victoria 

Kayla joined us for the first meet, but now she is off to study abroad in the Turks and Cakos Islands.

 Beware....Kristen and Kirsten.....

 Cheering on the long jump....

A few of the team members after the 4x400.

Athletes return to campus on Monday, January 7.  They will compete at Wesleyan on January 12 and will be back at Smith for the Beynon Invitational the next weekend, January 19.

PR, All American, and fifth place finish at Nationals!

Kirsten ran 1:01.43 in the 400m hurdles, placing fifth and setting a personal record!  This earns her All-American status in track and field.  Way to go, Kirsten!

Coaches Carla and Marlee made the trip with Kirsten. 


And they managed to squeeze in some sight-seeing while in southern California....

Which one is Kirsten and which is Lucille??

Kirsten qualifies for NCAA finals!

Kirsten ran the 400m hurdles 1:02.45 and finished second in her preliminary heat and ninth overall to make it to the NCAA finals!  The final race is tonight, May 26, at 4:45pm Pacific/7:45pm Eastern.    For results and a live web cast, check out this link: http://www.ustfccca.org/weekly-results/national-championships-central-outdoor-track-field#d3.

Kirsten Qualifies for Nationals!

Congratulations to junior Kirsten Silfvenius, who is heading to the NCAA Championships at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College in California on May 24-26!  She is currently ranked eleventh in the country in the 400m intermediate hurdles, and top 14 will compete.

Below, Kirsten competes in the 60m hurdles during her first indoor track and field season.

What a season!

What a season!  At last weekend's Open New England's, two seniors finished their college track and field careers with personal bests.  Katie Eison-Washington ran a PB of 125.82 in the 200 meter dash to place 25th, and Katie and fellow senior Mary Cote helped Morgan Augillard and Sonia Brown of the 4x100 team finish in a season best time of 49.14 seconds.  Sarah Romano wrapped up her final track season with a personal best discus throw of 37.95.

And that's not all--junior hurdler Kirsten Silfvenius may have herself a ticket to the NCAA championship next weekend in California!  Her time of 14.87 seconds in the 100m hurdles broke a five-year Smith record, and her 62.08 in the 400 hurdles placed her eleventh nationally.


The following pictures are from the Track and Field banquet held on May 2 at Pizza Paradiso.  First are a few of the paper plate awards from the captains, followed by pictures of a few choice items "willed" from seniors to returning teammates.

Aw, yeeah!  Who's jealous now?  Katie wills this spiffy onesie to...Sonia.  (I think, or am I misremembering?)  We hope to see it in action in the 4x100 next year!

Finally, a big GOOD BYE, MARLEE!  We will miss you!  Please come back and visit!

Pics from Smith's Athletic Banquet

Smith's annual Athletic Banquet gives the athletes an opportunity to don the fancy clothes never seen at practice and celebrate the accomplishments of the year.  Honored this year were seniors Mary Cote, Jean Egger, Katie Eison-Washington, Ellie Giles, Kristin Peck, and Sarah Romano--we will miss you!  Also awarded were the athletes who earned NEWMAC Academic All-Conference: Kayla Clark, Mary Cote, Kylee Drugan-Eppich, Ellie Giles, Abby Mosca, Kristin Peck, Kirsten Silfvenius, and Kristen Warren.  Distance runner Kylee Drugan-Eppich also received the Marly Pineda Pioneer Team Award, which is given to athletes who exemplify dedication, passion, selflessness, sportsmanship, and the spirit of a champion.  Although she was injured for the majority of the cross country season, she came to practice every day with a smile, ready to cross train and encourage her teammates.  She came back strong for both indoor and outdoor track, PRing in every race she competed throughout the two seasons.  Anyone who has been cheered up by Kylee's infectious smile and laugh, or encouraged by her mid-race knows that she truly captures the spirit of Marly Pineda.

Courtney, Abby, Micaela, Val, Kylee, Katie, and Caroline

Maya, Marlee, Katie, and Emily

Morgan, Mary, and Kirsten

No, this is not the cross country team....I managed to clip the lower part of the sign that says Track and Field. Meredith, and head coach Carla (back row), and Kristen, Emily, Grace, Fiona, and Kayla (front row).