D'Agostino qualified for nationals in the 5,000-meter run for the second consecutive year after winning her heat by more than seven seconds in a time of 16:15.35. D'Agostino finished third in the 5,000 meters at nationals last year and has yet to be beaten by a collegian in an individual event this spring.
Pappas qualified in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and, just like D'Agostino, won her heat by over seven seconds. Pappas' mark of 9:55.89 broke the Dartmouth record in the event, a record Pappas has broken several times. Pappas owns all three sub-10-minute times in Dartmouth history.
"It rules to break any record, but this one in particular means a lot to me because I've been able to see how my hard work has translated into improvement each day, week and year," Pappas said.
Pappas attributed her breakout season to the support of her team.
"I could not be more thankful for my coach and teammates, who make the hard work fun and worth it," Pappas said. "I would say that putting in 100 percent into the sport has helped the most. Before, I think I may have given it 90 percent, but it takes the last 10 percent to really succeed."
The team began competition on Thursday in the men's javelin, in which Brett Gilson '13 placed 45th with a throw of 178'10". Steve Mangan '14 advanced in the men's 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:47.86, good for second place in his heat. Chrissy Supino '12 and Arianna Vailas '14 competed in the women's 1,500 meters, and though neither advanced, Supino came agonizingly close in her final collegiate race. After finishing sixth in her heat, Supino had a chance to make it as a time qualifier, but her time of 4:25.20 left her 0.26 seconds short, and she was the first runner left out.
Ethan Shaw '12 concluded his Dartmouth career in Thursday's final event, the 10,000-meter run. In humid conditions ill-suited to the 25-lap race, Shaw finished 33rd in a time of 31:15.20.
Pappas and Henry Sterling '14 were the only Big Green athletes to compete on Friday. Although Pappas advanced, Sterling's season ended after he placed 11th in his heat of the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:08.50.
With a spot at nationals on the line in Saturday's quarterfinal of the 1,500 meters, Mangan was unable to keep up with a fast final two laps, placing 12th in his heat with a time of 3:56.32.
"My plan was to do what I've been doing all season in the 1,500," Mangan said. "If I could just stay in a comfortable position for three laps, I was pretty confident that I could kick with most of the guys there. The key was just to not get boxed in at any point, and I didn't in the prelim or quarterfinal."
Unfortunately for Mangan, who races for the Nordic ski team in the winter, his strategy did not translate to success in the quarterfinal.
"I wanted to make nationals, and after the prelim, I was sure I had a good shot at doing it," Mangan said. "In the quarterfinal, I blew up and wasn't anywhere close to being in a qualifying spot. That was really disappointing, but at least I know what to expect in the future."
John Bleday '14 failed to qualify in the 5,000 meters, finishing 19th in his heat in a time of 14:43.76.
Saturday's events also featured Dartmouth's only freshman competing over the weekend, as Cathy Liebowitz '15 placed 39th in the women's hammer throw. Liebowitz's third and best throw of the afternoon was measured at 172'5".
While the rest of the team will begin the offseason this week, Pappas and D'Agostino will forge ahead in seasons that will continue to NCAAs and beyond. D'Agostino has already automatically qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the 5,000 meters, while Pappas' personal best in the steeplechase is less than a second off of the automatic qualifying standard and will almost certainly be good enough to get her into the meet, which will be held in Eugene, Ore., on June 21-July 1.
Pappas said that even though she wants to do as well as possible at NCAAs, her top priority is to give her best effort in Des Moines.
"I'd like to get out there and compete," Pappas said. "Being All-American would rule, but I just want to know that I raced bravely."
