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Volume CXXXIII, Number 16 |
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Sweet repeat for women's track
ACADIA SENESE
STAFF WRITER
The Bowdoin Women's Track and Field team became the Maine
State Meet Champions last Wednesday night. Entering the meet as the underdogs,
the Bowdoin women ousted Bates, Colby, and the University of Southern
Maine in a huge upset, winning by a substantial margin of 57 points. Having
lost talented juniors to study abroad proved to be no problem, as the
Bowdoin women, with heart, courage, and desire to win did what none of
their state counterparts thought possible: they became State Champions
two years in a row. As a popular sign in Farley Field House declares,
they "[left] it all on the track."
Senior Captain Casey Kelley led the way with three strong
performances. Claiming first place in the triple jump with a distance
of 35'6", a second place in the 55 high hurdles (9.52) and third
place, and her personal best, in the long jump (16"1"), Kelley
was the leading scorer. Other great performances were first year Audra
Caler's two first place finishes in the 1500m (4:46.50) and the 3000 (10:33).
Shaina Zamaitis '02 won the 600m (1:41.43), followed closely be teammate
Molly Juhlin '05 (1:42.58). Winning the 800m( 2:23.53) was Bowdoin's Kala
Hardacker '04. Kristen Dummer '04, Bowdoin's top sprinter, took second
in both the 200m (27.47) and 55m (7.93).
Despite these great individual performances, it was clear
that the victory was a team victory. In the team's last meet would competing
in its entirety, the Bowdoin women branded together to defeat their rivals.
"The team was on fire Wednesday night. You know a team wants a championship
when they take 1-4 in the 1500 and 800…and [win]the final two relays,"
said senior captain Kate Waller.
Coach Slovenski commented: "We have a balanced team.
We needed to score in the throws, jumps, sprints, and track races; we
did."
Caitlin Fowkes and Letitia Pierre (with a personal best)
both competed well in the throws for Bowdoin. Four women triple jumpers
made it to the finals (Casey Kelley, Karen Yeoman '02, Acadia Senese '03,
and Maricka Decyk '02.)
The team celebrated by hoisting Coach Slovenski over their
shoulders after a victory lap around the USM track, but it was obvious
to all, that without their captains, Bowdoin would not have drummed up
the enthusiasm and drive to defeat their favored opponents.
"Casey Kelley, Karen Yeoman, and Kate Waller have been
terrific leaders for the team. They're the ones who motivated the team
to rise up with our best performance of the year against our in-state
rivals," Coach Slovenski said. And once again, the Bowdoin Polar
Bears became state champions.
The Bowdoin women compete once again at USM this weekend in the Division
III Track and Field Championship.