It was a busy winter for the Wesleyan Indoor Track and Field teams. Coming back early to campus, the track team took to its training very hard and seems prepared to have a winning indoor season.  The Cardinals started the New Year by participating in three indoor meets. On Jan. 8, a group of runners traveled to West Point to take part in the Crowell Open. The meet was attended by many top Division I and Division II schools, but the Cardinals had a great showing nonetheless. Lia Monti ‘13 placed fifth in the 400m (1:06.10), and Isabel Stern ‘14 took seventh in the 60m hurdles with a time of 0:10.09. On the men’s side, Paulie Lowther ‘13 finished eighth in the 60 meter dash (0:07.28), and Jack Pacelle ’13 finished eighth in the 200m with a time of 0:23.52.

Next up for the squad was the second Wesleyan Invitational on Jan. 15. Although this was a small meet with five teams, the Cardinals excelled in all events. School record holder and men’s team captain Tommie Lark ‘12 won both the long jump (19-7 ¾) and the triple jump (43-4 ½). Ernest Wingate ‘14 had another successful race in the 55m hurdles finishing first in 0:08.27. Alex Iwamoto ’12 won the high jump by clearing 6-0.  On the women side, there were six first place finishes. Captain Kathryn Kulowski ‘11 captured top honors in both the high jump (5-1) and long jump (14-10 1/4) as the team’s lone double-winner. Stern won the 55m hurdles (0:09.32), while Ashley Swan ’13 threw to a first place victory in the shot put (35-7). Julia Frieze ’12 pushed her way to a victory in the 400m (1:04.81) while also placing third in the 200m (0:29.20).

The third Wesleyan Invitational, held on Jan. 22, turned out to be the largest track event in Wes history, with 18 teams participating. Among the teams were three of the Cardinals’ NESCAC rivals, Amherst, Conn. College and Trinity. This was Wesleyan’s first real competitive test, and both the men’s and the women’s teams proved they could handle their own. This was the first meet that the distance runners competed in.  On the women’s side, the Cardinals came through with twelve top-eight finishes. Captain Jessica Levin ‘11 came in second in the 1000m in 3:11.44. Stern had another breakthrough performance in the 55m hurdlers with a second place finish of 0:09.05. Libby Lazare ’14 took over in the mile, coming in third with a time of 5:23.77. Chloe Lalonde ‘13 pulled through in the 1000m with a respectable seventh place finish in 3:18.11.

The men’s team was just as thrilling to watch. Highlighting the meet was the men’s mile race, where Skyler Cummins ‘13 came in first place, running away from a field of 44 entries with a solid time of 4:22.34. Right behind him was teammate Bryan Marsh ’13, who came in second with a time of 4:23.27.  Senior captain Charlie Lang came in sixth in the event with a time of 4:29.90. Lark had another victorious day, grabbing the top honors in the triple jump with his 43-10¼ effort. Rounding out the Cardinals  top eight finishes was captain Matt Katz ‘11 in the 1000m (Fifth, 2:39.85).

Up next for select members of the squad is a trip to Northeastern for the Boston Indoor Games Fri., Jan. 28.