The women's indoor track team placed second in its first home meet of the 2009-2010 indoor season, defeating Tufts University and Colby College, while losing to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the defending New England outdoor champions.
The long jump was Bowdoin's high-scoring event of the day—the Polar Bears took 24 points by posting the top three jumps of the day. Sophomore Laura Peterson won the event, while Hannah Peckler '11 took second and Michelle Kaufman '12 took third.
"It was really exciting how the jumpers could pull from their training and come through under pressure," Peterson said about the team's performance in the long jump.
In addition to her long jump victory, Peterson won the triple jump and was a member of the winning 4x200-meter relay, along with Sarah Lord '10, Claire Henry '12, and Morgan Browning '13. Elsa Millett '12 took second in both the 400-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. Running the 200-meter for the first time this season, Millett lost to an All-American by just under a tenth of a second.
In the distances, Anna Ackerman '12 beat her personal best time by an impressive 20 seconds to place second in the 3000-meter run.
"I heard my high school coach yelling, 'You've got to move your arms faster,'" Ackerman said. "I focused on that and wound up with a 20-second PR."
Lindsay Hodge '10 had a strong race in the mile, placing fifth in a fast race.
"Lindsay Hodge had a great race in the mile," Coach Peter Slovenski said. "She's been training and racing with a lot of intelligence, and she's getting great results."
Friday night, the Polar bears turn their attention to the Maine State Meet, where they will challenge for the state title in what promises to be a close meet.
Lord described the state meet as the "pinnacle of our team season," and said she hopes that the Polar Bears can continue their pattern of "great performances and personal records."
All four teams have the potential to win the title, in what promises to be a competitive title meet.
"We'll be ready to give it our best and hopefully turn a lot of the close finishes in Bowdoin's favor," Slovenski said.
Millett also said that she believes the Polar Bears have the ability and the drive to win the Maine State Title.
"We have put in so much work and at this point in the season," she said. "We know we have put in the work, now it's just up to our Bowdoin spirit to carry us to victory."