Dartmouth men’s and women’s track and field teams ushered in 2016 with two dominant team victories at the Dartmouth Relays on Sunday, Jan. 10 at the Leverone Field House. With a sweep of the mid-distance and distance events by the women and a record set by the men, the wins at home marked the sixth straight team victory for the women’s team, which scored a total of 177 points, and the fifth straight team victory for the men’s, which scored 164 points.
This year marked the 47th running of the Dartmouth Relays, which features three days of high school, college and open levels of competition.
According to men’s head coach Barry Harwick ’77, the meet is the largest athletic event hosted by the College, drawing over 2,000 athletes over the three-day period.
Although the season is still young, both teams were pleased with how the meet went.
“To be honest, we expected to win the team score, but it’s gratifying to do so,” Harwick said. “Everyone was tired after three days of the Dartmouth Relays, but we had some great individual performances.”
Leading the men’s side was a new Dartmouth record in the pole vault by Max Cosculluela ’17, who cleared 16-07.50-feet, over a foot higher than the second place competitor.
Ben Colello ’18 led a Big Green sweep of the first four places in the 60-meter hurdles, stopping the clock in 8.18 seconds for a new personal best, according to Harwick.
The Big Green distance runners had a strong opening to their indoor track season, sweeping the first three places in the men’s mile and the first four places in the men’s 3,000-meters. Joey Chapin ’16 led the way in the mile, winning in 4:12.60. Julian Heninger ’17 clocked a quick 8:19.66 to take first place in the 3,000-meter race.
“It’s hard at the start of the season, after having only done one session on the track preceding the meet, [and] it’s always a bit of shock when the race actually starts,” Will Shafer ’18, who placed sixth in the mile, said. “After the next couple weeks I think the whole distance squad will be a lot sharper and ready to run substantially faster.”
Also winning their events on the men’s side were Reed Horton ’19 in the 800-meters, clocking a 1:56.01, Corey Muggler ’17 in the triple jump with 48-07.25 feet and the 4x400-meter team of Amos Cariati ’18, Jules Hislop ’17, Zach Plante ’18 and Edward Wagner ’16, which finished in 3:22.43.
The women’s team also recorded numerous strong performances. Highlighting the results were two wins by Kaitlin Whitehorn ’16 in the high jump (5-08.50-feet) and the 60-meter dash (7.55). Kaitlin McCallum ’16 and Stephanie Brown ’16 also performed well in the pole vault, both clearing 12 feet.
Whitehorn was especially pleased with her performances at the Relays.
“I was hoping to win the 60-meter dash,” Whitehorn said. “I’ve made it to the final every time, but never was able to win it. I was very happy with my performance.”
The Dartmouth women also won every mid-distance and distance event at the Relays. Jen Meech ’16 won the 400-meters in 56.83, Aliyah Gallup ’17 won the 800-meters in 2:15.97, Grace Thompson ’19 won the mile in 5:02.61 and Helen Schlachtenhaufen ’17 won the 3,000-meters in a quick 9:51.88.
In the other field events and relays, Kayla Gilding ’19 won the long jump with a 17-09.00-foot leap and a team of Gilding, Meech, Katy Sprout ’17 and Sara Kikut ’16 won the 4x400-meter relay in 3:54.85.
The Dartmouth Relays served as a good opening meet for both teams, but both teams will look to continue to sharpen as they prepare for the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships in late February.
“The point of the early races is rust busting,” Curtis King ’16, who placed third in the men’s mile, said.
King added that Chapin’s first place finish is an indicator of success to come in the next few months for the senior runner.
Following their strong victories, the men’s and women’s track and field teams will prepare to host the University of Vermont and the University of Maine on Saturday, Jan. 16 at Leverone Field House in Hanover. The following weekend, the teams will host Ivy League rivals Yale University and Columbia University on Saturday, Jan. 23.
