The women's indoor track and field team displayed its prowess last weekend, winning the third Maine State Championship in the last four seasons for the Polar Bears.
"I love the energy of the Maine State meet, especially when it leads to a Bowdoin win," said Elsa Millett '12. "I was really proud of the team's depth."
The Polar Bears dominated, producing six state champions. Millett, Olivia MacKenzie '13, Christina Argueta '11, Laura Peterson '12, Michele Kaufman '13, Emily Barr '12 all took victories in individual events.
"Individual wins are great, but we won the meet because we snagged points in the second through sixth places, and those add up. It was a real team effort," said Millett.
MacKenzie said that she is glad that their effort allowed the team "to keep the trophy."
Victories at the state championship are nothing out of the ordinary for Argueta.
"We have only lost the state once in the four years that I have been here and that was my freshman year," she said. "It was also wonderful for our team to not only beat Colby but beat them in the distance events where they had the upper hand this fall."
An impressive peformance in the shot put event also contributed to the Polar Bear's victory. First year shot putter Katherine Harmon broke her own personal record four times and captured third place in the meet.
Annie Huyler '12, who is leading the team in scored points, placed in five events.
"The versatility that Annie and Katherine bring to the team makes a big difference in our lineup," said head coach Peter Slovenski. "Having athletes in the throwing and jumping events at that high level gives our team a big lift in practice and competition."
Millett said this huge victory has energized the team for the end of the season.
"The state meet gave us good momentum for races to come," she said. "Now that we are in the mood, the Valentine's Day meet at Boston University will be a competitive venue to get some strong results."
For the majority of the team, this meet marks the beginning of the transition to the outdoor track season.
"The team that is still competing has its eyes on a top-five finish at New England Division III meet at MIT in two weeks," said Argueta.
MacKenzie is hoping to qualify for the Open New England meet this weekend.
"I am trying to rest more and stay sharp for the championship meets," she said.
"This weekend showed us that we could bring the heat to Maine," Millett added. "Now we are ready to bring it to the rest of New England."