Over Spring Break, several members of the Bowdoin women's track team competed in a preseason invitational in Florida against D-I competition.
The highlight of the meet was sophomore Laura Peterson, who after competing at the Indoor National Championships in March, qualified provisionally for outdoor nationals in the triple jump.
The women's team's first regular season meet takes place this weekend at Middlebury College in Vermont.
Captain Sarah Lord '10 is excited about the meet at Middlebury, and said she hopes that Bowdoin can start off its outdoor season with a strong performance.
"With the great weather expected at Middlebury this weekend, we hope to get off to a pretty good start," she said.
After the Middlebury Invitational, the Bowdoin women will head to the University of New Hampshire, then will host the Aloha Relays the following week. After those three meets, the Polar Bears will head into the championship season.
Captain Dana Riker '10 discussed the shorter outdoor season.
"The outdoor season is much shorter," she said. "There are a few weeks of solid training and competition, and then you are immediately into the championship meets. It takes a lot of focused effort to peak at the right time, so we'll be looking to do that as a team."
Head Coach Peter Slovenski is confident the Polar Bears can be successful in the championship meets.
"We've been working hard and preparing well," said Slovenski. "The team has excellent student leadership. Our goal is to repeat as a top-four team in the NESCAC and as a top five team in New England."
Lord added, "We are hoping to build on the hard work and success of the winter season by getting in great qualifying times, distances and heights in the next couple of meets to put us in a position to do well at the Aloha Relays, the NESCAC Championships, and the D-III New England Championships."
Sophomore Elsa Millett said she believes that Bowdoin can also have several representatives at the outdoor National Championships.
"We were so proud to have Laura [Peterson] represent us at Nationals during the indoor season," she said, "and we are setting our sights on Nationals in the outdoor season as well. Go big or go home."
Riker is also enthusiastic about the upcoming season.
"The team dynamic is great," she said. "It's a cohesive group of women who are all committed and enthusiastic about the sport — I think it's going to be a great season."