The men's and women's track teams are off to a season of individual and team-wide successes, crushing personal records and sweeping regional competitions.
The men hit the ground running before winter break with a first-place finish at the Southern Maine Invitational on December 10.
The meet's top finishers included Coby Horowitz '14, who placed first in both the 1-mile run (4:26.01) and the 3,000-meter run (8:58.75); Riker Wikoff '12, who won the 55-meter hurdles (8.16); and Christopher Genco '15 in the high jump (1.93 meters).
Though the women's meet was not scored, Laura Peterson '12 won both the long jump and triple jump. Bowdoin posted six other first-place individual finishes and two top-placing relay squads.
Head coach Peter Slovenski attributed the team's impressive performance thus far to the work ethic of the athletes.
"They put in long hours on the track, on the field, and in the weight room to get better," he said. "Our team's only weakness is lack of depth and a few discouraging injuries. Our strength is getting past those factors."
Four weeks after the invitational, the Polar Bears repeated their early success as they swept another four-team meet, crushing Southern Maine, Worcester Polytechnic, and Brandeis on both the men's and women's side.
Top finishers for the men included Matthew Hillard '12 in the 800 meters (2:01.35), Alex Williams '12 in the 3,000 meters (8:51.94), Samuel Chick '13 in the triple jump (12.95 meters), and a first-place relay finish.
The women's relays also dominated, with first place finishes in the 4x200, 4x400, and 4x800 events.
The team posted five more individual track victories with seniors Elsa Millett in the 600-meter run, Chantel Croteau in the 1,000-meter run, and Emily Barr in the 60-meter dash. Anna Ackerman '12 took first in the 3,000 meters and Olivia MacKenzie '13 won the 1,000 meters.
Bowdoin took three more top finishes in the field events, with a first-time winner Randi London '15 in the shot put (11.49 meters).
This past weekend, the Polar Bears headed to Connecticut to compete in the non-scoring Wesleyan Invitational. There, personal records and school records alike were destroyed.
Erin Silva '15 led the way, breaking her own school record in the pole vault.
Silva broke her previous indoor mark of 11-01 feet with a new one of 11-4.25 feet, and has high expectations coming into the end of the season, even after her recent accomplishments.
"I really just want to keep improving my technique and hopefully with that will come higher heights, too," Silva said. "I've been doing a lot of different pieces of the vault and hopefully that will all come together for the meet."
Silva's victory was accompanied by six more individual wins and two relay victories for the women.
Top finishers on the men's side included Horowitz, Matt Gamache '13, Nick Saba '14, Kyle LeBlanc '14, and Rickey Larke '15.
In the final weeks before the postseason, the team has no intention of slowing down.
"We aspire to be top three in New England D-III," Slovenski said. "It's a very competitive region, but last year we were fifth. It's hard to break that top five, but that's our goal."
Bowdoin will compete again this weekend at home against Colby, Rensselaer Polytechnic, Springfield, and Tufts for the men. The women will take on Colby and Rensselaer Polytechnic.