This past weekend was full of record-breaking performances for the Dartmouth men's and women's track and field teams. At the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., Abbey D'Agostino '14 ran the fastest time in the NCAA in the 5,000-meter run, and Alexi Pappas '12 ran the NCAA's No. 3 time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Meanwhile, at the Larry Ellis Invitational at Princeton University, the men's team finished with several season-best times.
The first meet on the schedule was the 54th Annual Mt. SAC Relays, hosted by Mount San Antonio College at the historic Hilmer Lodge Stadium. The top performance of the weekend belonged to D'Agostino, whose time of 15:23.35 was good for third in a loaded Invitational section of the 5,000-meters, won by the American record-holder at the distance, Molly Huddle. D'Agostino's time broke her own Ivy League record by 17 seconds, and she now ranks eighth all-time in NCAA history at 5,000 meters. The sophomore is just three seconds off of the Olympic "A" standard for the event.
Pappas also posted an exceptional time in the women's steeplechase. Just two weeks ago at Princeton, Pappas ran a 10:07.58 in the event, but on Thursday night, she crossed the line in 9:58.41, becoming just the second runner in Ivy League history to break the 10-minute barrier. Pappas' was the only collegian in the Invitational section of the steeplechase, and her time was good for fourth against a field of professionals and post-collegiate runners.
Pappas said she is happy she got the opportunity to race at Mt. SAC.
"The Mt. SAC Relays were a completely different experience," Pappas said. "There were few collegiate runners most of the participants were professionals. It was really a privilege to be there."
Pappas said her mindset for her last term and season on campus is to give it her all on the track.
"I want to make sure that I'm putting 100 percent effort in every race I compete in," Pappas said. "My senior spring is probably much different from other seniors. I go to bed reasonably early and don't really go out much. But that's a choice, not a sacrifice. I love what I do and want to give it my best."
Pappas said watching D'Agostino break her own record was exciting and that it was a memorable experience for both of them.
"Abbey and I were so thrilled to be in such competitive races," Pappas said. "We knew we belonged there, and that gave us confidence. I'm glad we both got to watch each other compete. During our races, we were thinking about our other teammates and doing it for Dartmouth."
Several Dartmouth men's runners also competed in California. Ethan Shaw '12 came in 12th in the Invitational section of the 10,000-meter run, clocking a time of 29:17.89 on Thursday night. Teammate Jonathan Gault '13 placed 19th in the Olympic Development section, crossing the line in 29:59.21. In the Open-A section of the 5,000-meter run, John Bleday '14 placed 14th with a time of 14:07.92, moving him up to No. 11 on Dartmouth's all-time list. Shaw's time places him seventh on Dartmouth's all-time list in the 10,000 meters.
"I thought the Mt. SAC Relays were a cool experience," Shaw said. "It was an honor to compete with some of the fastest and most talented runners in the nation."
While Shaw and company were busy in California, the rest of the team traveled to Princeton's Weaver Stadium on Friday and Saturday to compete in the Larry Ellis Invitational against a field of over 200 collegiate and club teams and close to 2,000 athletes.
On Friday, the men's team saw distance runner Steve Mangan '14 run 3:45.36 in the 1,500-meter run, placing him fourth in a field of 80 and ranking him sixth in the program's history. Lukas Zirngibl '14 was the fastest Big Green runner in the 800-meter run, crossing the line in 1:52.04 for 24th overall. In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Henry Sterling '14 came in 19th overall, posting a time of 9:07.88.
In its second day of the competition, the Big Green set more season-best times. Connor Reilly '13 ran a season-best time of 10.78 in the 100 meters, good for fourth in a field of 40 runners. Brett Buskey '15 finished six places behind him with a time of 10.92. Jalil Bishop '14, who competed in the 400 meters, placed 19th overall after crossing the line in 49.00. The foursome of Bishop, Joe Woiwode '14, Jonathan Brady '14 and Evan Bryant '12 ran a season-best time of 3:17.64 in the 4x400-meter relay. The group won its heat and placed 10th overall out of 30 teams.
Shaw said he was proud of the team's efforts this past weekend at both meets.
"Both the men and women had some outstanding performances over the weekend," Shaw said. "Now I think we need to get as many people as we can to have their best races on the same day because [the Ivy League Heptagonal] Championships are coming in a few weeks. I know we are ready to compete, and I'd love to see us all put it together"
Arianna Vailas '14 placed 13th in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:26.69 at Princeton on Friday. Teammate Hannah Rowe '14 posted a 14th-place finish in the 5,000-meter run, crossing the line in 16:54.32. Alison Lanois '15 came in 22nd in the same event in 17:08.61.
In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Kate Sullivan '13 and Sarah DeLozier '15 came in 20th and 25th, respectively.
In the Saturday events, Megan Krumpoch '14 placed 11th out of 40 and ran her fastest time of the year after running a 1:01.41 in the 400-meter hurdles. The team of Krumpoch, K.C. Cord '15, Meggie Donovan '15 and Naomi Stahl '12 ran the 4x400-meter relay in 3:54.20, the fastest time for the Big Green this spring.
Several members of the men's and women's teams will next compete at the Penn Relays, which run Thursday through Saturday, while another squad will run at the University of New Hampshire Invitational on Saturday. The team of D'Agostino, Pappas, Vailas and Chrissy Supino '12 will run the 4x1,500-meter relay at the Relays. Pappas said she is more than excited for the race.
"This event is a very competitive race at the Penn Relays," Pappas said. "We'll be facing teams like Oregon [University] and Georgetown [University], who have already won championships this season. We are thrilled to be competing there."
Pappas has raced in competitive relays before, as she was a member of the Dartmouth squad that placed third in the distance medley relay at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in March. Pappas will run for Oregon as a fifth-year senior next year.
Shaw, who will not race again until the Heptagonal Championships, thinks the races at Penn will benefit the team as a whole.
"We're only sending a small squad down to Penn, but hopefully our teammates get to compete against some great people," Shaw said. "I want our distance runners and those competing in field events to take advantage of this opportunity as they face some of the best teams in the world."
Sullivan is a member of The Dartmouth Staff. Gault is a member of The Dartmouth Senior Staff.
