After a month-long hiatus, the men’s and women’s track and field teams hosted 15 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams last weekend.
The Elis returned to the track Saturday for the 30th Yale Intercollegiate Track Classic at Coxe Cage. The Elis hosted and competed against teams including the University of Connecticut, the University of New Haven, Sacred Heart University and Franklin & Marshall University. While the meet was unscored, the women and men had four and two first-place finishes respectively, and the teams showed promise against upcoming stiff competition.
Success in middle distance events highlighted the men’s team’s performance. Christopher Ramsey ’13 won the highly contested 800-meter run, with Julian Sheinbaum ’12 and Jacob Sandry ’15 close behind. Sheinbaum and Sandry took second and third, respectively.
“While my race could have been better, I was happy when my performance in the 800,” Ramsey said. “Regardless of time, it’s always nice to win, and I felt like it was a good rehearsal for next week when we go up against Ivy League competition and beating people who really matter.”
Ramsey clocked in at 1.57.34. His personal best for the 800 is 1.52.27.
On the field, Mike Levine ’13, who won the All-Ivy in discus last year, placed second in the weight throw, while Central Connecticut’s Rashad Williams, who is the reigning Penn Relays champion, took the event. Like Ramsey, Levine said he was pleased with his performance, but he is looking forward to competing against Ivy League opponents.
In the relay events, the Elis capped off a third-place finish with John McGowan ’15, Charlie Jaeger ’12, Timothy Hillas ’13 and Michael Pierce ’13 in a heavily contested 4×800-meter relay race during which two other schools claimed the lead before Yale pulled ahead to finish the race.
“For me, Saturday was an opportunity get back into competition for the first time since my senior year of high school three years ago,” Mark Kaczor ’13, who claimed 13th place in the shot put, said. “I did not perform as well as I had hoped to, but I was glad to participate again in actual track meet, and for the first time in a collegiate environment.”
The women’s track and field team also made impressive strides in their events and took home four first-place finishes. Lindsey Raymond ’12 topped the field in the one-mile run, and Anna Demaree ’15 followed.
“The meet this weekend was a very positive way to begin the semester,” Raymond, a former city editor for the News, said. “I was happy with the team’s performance because it was a good starting point for our meet next weekend … I think everyone is looking to improve and build on their races and will continue to train hard.”
Alexa Monti ’12 placed first in a field of 38 to win the 60-meter dash, and Annelies Gamble ’13 secured a win in the 800-meter race. Emily Urciuoli ’14, who competed in the pole vault, became one of four Bulldogs to secure a first-place finish for the women.
Monti said she could not have asked for a better start to the season. She added that her time of 7.87 seconds in the 60-meter dash was her personal best for her Bulldog years.
“Our first test as a team [is against] Dartmouth and Columbia, and I think we are in a good place to show the rest of the Ivy League that we are a force to be reckoned with,” Monti said. “If we can tap into our full potential, I think we can have a successful season.”
Both the men’s and women’s teams will face Dartmouth and Columbia in Hanover on Saturday in their first scored competition.