The men posted a total of 87.5 points against Yale University and Columbia University on Saturday. After starting the year with a third consecutive first-place finish at the Dartmouth Relays, the men have defeated every opponent they have faced this season.
"Winning the tri-meet against Yale and Columbia was gratifying," men's head coach Barry Harwick said. "We really stressed the team score for that meet, so it was great to see everyone respond."
The women's team, on the other hand, finished behind Columbia and Yale at the tri-meet last weekend.
The emergence of the freshman class which has had a strong indoor season thus far will be one key to the men's team's success. The group is headlined by Connor Reilly '13, who set a school record in the 60-meter dash when he ran a 6.88 against Maine. Reilly's showing knocked off captain Muhammed Abdul-Shakoor '10, who had tied the previous record of 6.90 just the previous week.
The Big Green hopes to garner high finishes at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships at the end of the season the year's biggest meet. Abdul-Shakoor placed third at the meet last year.
Anthony Romaniw '13 another freshman standout already notched victories in the 800-meter run at the Dartmouth Relays and the 1000-meter run against Yale and Columbia. Romaniw leads a group of strong middle-distance runners who should make the 4x800-meter relay and distance medley relay competitive events for the Big Green.
"The class of 2013 is already having a significant positive effect, I really expect them and the rest of the team to have some very fast times this weekend at BU," Harwick said.
Pole-vaulter Barret Folk '13, multi-eventer Brett Gilson '13, jumper Kevin Crowley '13 and distance runners Adam Doherty '13, Jonathan Gault '13 and Phil Royer '13 fill out the talented rookie class.
Gault is a member of the Dartmouth staff.
The solid performance of Dave Irving '11 in the 35 lb. weight throw has been a consistent story line throughout the season. Irving threw a personal best 18.71 meters during the Yale-Columbia meet and is one of the league's leading throwers.
While the majority of runners on the men's and women's teams will participate in the Terrier Classic this weekend, the multi-event athletes will travel to Harvard. There, they will compete alongside Brian Clay, reigning Olympic gold-medalist in the decathalon.
Clay won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and is considered among the best track and field athletes in the world.
"Competing along side the best in the world in your own sport is most athlete's dream," multi-event athlete Rob Contuzzi '12 said. "The fact that we get to do it as a part of our season is a pretty cool thing and something we are all really excited about."
Kaitlyn D'Orazio '13 and Emmaline Berg '13 were the only two winners for the women's team last weekend, pulling off first-place finishes in the 800-meter run and the shot-put, respectively.
Women's head coach Sandy Ford-Centonze said she and her team remain focused on moving forward and not dwelling on past results.
"For those not competing at BU this weekend, the week has been a good opportunity to train hard," she said. "With four training weeks and two more competitions, we hope to continue to drop times, throw further and jump higher. As always, you feel that there is not enough time, but you do what's needed to get the job done in the end."
The women will look to Natalie Stoll '10 and Alex Tanner '11 to score in the 400-meter dash this weekend at BU. Both are top performers in the event, and Tanner is the reigning outdoor Heptagonals champion in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. She holds the school record in the event.
Following this weekend, the teams will compete in the Dartmouth Indoor Classic on Feb. 6 at Leverone Field House.
