This week, the Cardinals ran at home against NESCAC rival Amherst and several other schools in preparation for conference championships next week. Though the meet was unscored, Wesleyan competitors raced hard and registered some speedy runs as they aimed to post improved seed times for next week.
Despite the size of the meet, multiple races generated considerable excitement. Following up on his impressive 14:41 second-place effort in the 5000m last week, Captain Evan Bieder ’15 lowered his time in the 1500m. Tracking the leader for the whole race before striking on the home stretch to take the top spot in a personal record of 3:55.7, the senior runner edged out the Lord Jeffs’ top runner by one second.
Not far behind him were Taylor Titcomb ’16 and Tate Knight ’18, who took fifth and sixth places in personal records as well. Bieder is the only runner ranked in the top five in both the 5000m (first) and the 1500m (fourth) in the NESCAC.
Another impressive performance came in the women’s 400m, where Ellie Martin ’16 powered home for the victory in a personal record of 56.84, giving her the fastest time in the NESCAC and bringing her within a half second of the 31-year-old school record of 56.45.
“I feel ready to go into NESCACs after that 400,” Martin said. “It is so rewarding and exciting to know that I can run that time, and I will be using those feelings for confidence and motivation next weekend.”
Captain Melissa Luning ’15 backed up Martin with a huge personal record of 58.07, breaking the one-minute barrier for the first time and ranking her second in the conference. Aida Julien ’18 and Sydney Cogswell ’16 came in fifth and sixth, respectively.
The men’s 400m and 400m hurdles events also produced excitement. In the 400m, Albert Fang ’18 battled Amherst’s top 400m runner all the way down the home straight, edging him out by one one-hundredth of a second with a lean at the line.
In the 400m hurdles, Thomas Reid ’18 looked to complete a sweep of the hurdles events after winning the 110m high hurdles. Reid was well on his way to doing so until he clipped the third-to-last hurdle, losing his balance going into the home stretch. Reid was unable to recover and was just edged out over the last 10 meters.
The women’s 800m provided another close finish in Wesleyan’s favor. Nikita Rajgopal ’17, coming off an injury and running for the first time in three weeks, charged down the home straight to overtake the Amherst leader with 20 meters to go, crossing the finish line in a personal best of 2:19.53.
Wes swept the women’s hurdles events, with seniors Leyna Donaldson and Geneva Jonathan coming out on top in the 100m hurdles and the 400m hurdles, respectively. Donaldson came on strong towards the end to take the lead, while Jonathan lead from start to finish with Hannah Goodman ’16 following her all the way for second place.
Both the men and the women found success in the short sprint events as well. On the men’s side, Drew Trotman ’18 ran his way to second and third in the 100m and 200m, respectively. For the women, Captain Idara Foster ’15 was barely edged at the line in the 100m, finishing second. Foster captured second in the 200m as well.
Alexis Walker ’16 had a huge lead in the 100m approaching the finish line, but unfortunately pulled up clutching her hamstring with about 30 meters remaining. Having pulled her hamstring, Walker is unlikely to be back this season, and the Cardinals will be hard-pressed to replace her.
In the men’s 800m, Austin Dhillon ’18 dipped under the two-minute barrier for the first time, running 1:58.73 and placing fifth to lead a number of quick Cardinals. Captain Luca Ameri ’15 returned from injury, running for the first time in four weeks. Ameri was right behind Dhillon for sixth, while Will Dudek ’17 and Greg Tavarez ’16 followed Ameri in seventh and eighth.
Finally, in the sand, LaDarius Drew ’15 won the long jump by over a foot, and now ranks third in the NESCAC. Agbon Edomwonyi ’16 took victories in the shot put, discus, and hammer, while Erik Hall ’16 won the javelin competition. Colleen O’Neill ’18 took first in the pole vault, while Orelia Jonathan ’15 matched Edomwonyi by winning the shot put, discus, and hammer as well.
“This week has been a real confidence booster for the Cardinals,” Martin said. “We have been waiting for NESCACs all year. We can do some damage in the NESC
events, with seniors Leyna Donaldson and Geneva Jonathan coming out on top in the 100m hurdles and the 400m hurdles, respectively. Donaldson came on strong towards the end to take the lead, while Jonathan lead from start to finish with Hannah Goodman ’16 following her all the way for second place.
Both the men and the women found success in the short sprint events as well. On the men’s side, Drew Trotman ’18 ran his way to second and third in the 100m and 200m, respectively. For the women, Captain Idara Foster ’15 was barely edged at the line in the 100m, finishing second. Foster captured second in the 200m as well.
Alexis Walker ’16 had a huge lead in the 100m approaching the finish line, but unfortunately pulled up clutching her hamstring with about 30 meters remaining. Having pulled her hamstring, Walker is unlikely to be back this season, and the Cardinals will be hard-pressed to replace her.
In the men’s 800m, Austin Dhillon ’18 dipped under the two-minute barrier for the first time, running 1:58.73 and placing fifth to lead a number of quick Cardinals. Captain Luca Ameri ’15 returned from injury, running for the first time in four weeks. Ameri was right behind Dhillon for sixth, while Will Dudek ’17 and Greg Tavarez ’16 followed Ameri in seventh and eighth.
Finally, in the sand, LaDarius Drew ’15 won the long jump by over a foot, and now ranks third in the NESCAC. Agbon Edomwonyi ’16 took victories in the shot put, discus, and hammer, while Erik Hall ’16 won the javelin competition. Colleen O’Neill ’18 took first in the pole vault, while Orelia Jonathan ’15 matched Edomwonyi by winning the shot put, discus, and hammer as well.
“This week has been a real confidence booster for the Cardinals,” Martin said. “We have been waiting for NESCACs all year. We can do some damage in the NESCAC this season so we are excited and prepared to compete this weekend.”events, with seniors Leyna Donaldson and Geneva Jonathan coming out on top in the 100m hurdles and the 400m hurdles, respectively. Donaldson came on strong towards the end to take the lead, while Jonathan lead from start to finish with Hannah Goodman ’16 following her all the way for second place.
Both the men and the women found success in the short sprint events as well. On the men’s side, Drew Trotman ’18 ran his way to second and third in the 100m and 200m, respectively. For the women, Captain Idara Foster ’15 was barely edged at the line in the 100m, finishing second. Foster captured second in the 200m as well.
Alexis Walker ’16 had a huge lead in the 100m approaching the finish line, but unfortunately pulled up clutching her hamstring with about 30 meters remaining. Having pulled her hamstring, Walker is unlikely to be back this season, and the Cardinals will be hard-pressed to replace her.
In the men’s 800m, Austin Dhillon ’18 dipped under the two-minute barrier for the first time, running 1:58.73 and placing fifth to lead a number of quick Cardinals. Captain Luca Ameri ’15 returned from injury, running for the first time in four weeks. Ameri was right behind Dhillon for sixth, while Will Dudek ’17 and Greg Tavarez ’16 followed Ameri in seventh and eighth.
Finally, in the sand, LaDarius Drew ’15 won the long jump by over a foot, and now ranks third in the NESCAC. Agbon Edomwonyi ’16 took victories in the shot put, discus, and hammer, while Erik Hall ’16 won the javelin competition. Colleen O’Neill ’18 took first in the pole vault, while Orelia Jonathan ’15 matched Edomwonyi by winning the shot put, discus, and hammer as well.
“This week has been a real confidence booster for the Cardinals,” Martin said. “We have been waiting for NESCACs all year. We can do some damage in the NESCAC this season so we are excited and prepared to compete this weekend.”
AC this season so we are excited and prepared to compete this weekend.”