The Brandeis track teams' performance at this weekend's All New England Track and Field championship in Boston was highlighted by school records and impressive individual feats.
The men have been plagued by injuries and did not have as many competitors at the meet, but Ryan Parker '06 represented for the Judges, qualifying for the NCAAs in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:53.4.
On the women's side, Linda Kropp '07 proved she is a force in the field events by winning the long jump with a leap of 17'7", missing an NCAA qualification by a few inches. She also ran the fastest leg of the 4x200-meter relay in their school record-setting time of 1:45, good enough for a second-place finish. Jane Farrell '06, had another great performance, setting a school record in the pole vault with a jump of 8'10". She also came in third in the 400-meters with a personal best of 59.29. Kropp and Farrell were also members of the 4x400 relay team that came in fourth overall at the championships, and also included Kate Schill '05 and Remy Coyle '07. Both teams will be traveling to Cleveland this weekend at the UAA championships, where the women will be looking to finish in the top three.
Last weekend at the D-III New England Championships, Kropp and Parker turned in standout performances for the women's and men's track teams. The women traveled to Cambridge to compete at MIT, while the men's meet was held at Bowdoin in Brunswick, Maine.
Kropp, whose 19th birthday happened to fall on the day of the meet, celebrated in memorable fashion, winning the long jump event with a leap of 17'7", and taking part in the record-setting 4x200-meter relay team that set a new school record with a time of 1:45.81. The other members of the relay team were Jackie Schon '07, Katie Schill '05, and Jane Farrell '06, who also enjoyed a successful day, following a personal best in the 400-meter run with a time of 59.29, earning herself a third place finish, and coming in fourth in the pole vault, a placement good enough to qualify her for nationals. Schill also finished sixth overall in the hurdles.
The women's 4x400-meter relay team, which has already qualified for nationals, came away with a fourth place finish despite the absence of one of its members, senior co-captain Gretchen Chick. "The fourth place finish was very good considering they were already tired from having run all day," said head coach Mark Reytblat, who was very happy with the women's performances.
The men's team was led by Parker '06, who won the 800-meter event and established himself as the New England champion with a time of 1:54.18. With this time he also qualified for the NCAA meet. His classmate, Jackson Weber, finished sixth in the 600-meter run with a time of 1:24.67, while the men's 4x400-meter relay team ran their best time of the season with 3:28.17. "Ryan was definitely a standout for the team. We didn't have as many runners competing, but the ones that did ran well," said coach John Evans, who traveled to Maine with the men.
The Judges are now preparing for the upcoming UAA meet. Coach Mark Reytblat is confident with both team's chances of coming away from the meets with top place finishes. "For the women, last year was the best recruiting year for sprints, so we're in very good shape going into the UAAs. Most of our best sprinters are freshmen and sophomores," he said. "Our goal at the UAAs this year is to finish in the top three, and next year to win it." While these may seem like lofty goals, the Judges have proven they have the talent to fulfill these expectations.