W. Track finds success at Old Nassau

When the team fails to meet its own expectations, it can be hard for the team's individuals to stand up on their own in future contests.

But that was not the case for the four members of the Penn women's track team who participated in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships last weekend in Princeton, N.J.

It was the Quakers' second trip in three weeks to Old Nassau. Just two weekends earlier, Penn was at the home of the Tigers for the Outdoor Heptagonal Championships, where the Quakers suffered a disappointment, taking sixth place for the second straight year.

But last weekend had a different purpose -- to bring some closure to a season of running.

And for the three seniors that went, to end their collegiate careers on a high note.

With no pressure, the Quakers pulled through with a number of great performances.

"We were just thrilled with their efforts, and the fact that two of them were able to have their personal bests at that meet was very exciting for us," Penn assistant coach Tony Tenisci said.

Penn senior JaJuan Gair sprinted to a third place finish in the 100 meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 13.90 seconds, just five one-hundredths of a second off the Penn record. Gair was named to the All-East team for her performance.

The native of LaPlace, Pa., took third in her preliminary heat with a time of 13.96 the day before.

"JaJuan's race was incredible, and I am so happy for her to be going out on such a strong note," Penn sophomore Julie Siebert-Johnson said.

Gair improved a quarter of a second from her time at Heps during the first weekend of May.

Another Penn senior who performed well was long jumper Bassey Adjah, who took ninth place with a jump of 5.'4 meters.

Adjah was just five one-hundredths of a meter short of placing in the event, and just a tenth of a meter short of tying the Penn record.

The other senior competing was thrower Yinka Orafidiya, who struggled last weekend and ended up fouling in the hammer throw.

But last weekend was just a small blemish on what has been a great track career at Penn for Orafidiya. The Philadelphia native broke the school record in the hammer throw last month.

"Yinka was disappointed with her weekend, but she has had such a great year and career here, that she is happy overall," Siebert-Johnson said.

The only non-senior competing at ECACs for Penn was Siebert-Johnson, who placed fourth in the javelin with a distance of 44.64 meters. The native of Holmdel, N.J., earned All-East honors for her throw.

"I was very pleased with my performance this past weekend at ECACs because it was my best throw this season," Siebert-Johnson said. "Although I am still a few feet off what I was throwing last year, I understand my knee injury is the only thing preventing me from improving.

"Hopefully when it is fixed I will be able to throw well again."

Siebert-Johnson already owns the Penn school record in the javelin throw, which she set last year as a freshman with a distance of 46.2' meters.

Placing in two events and scoring 11 points, the Quakers managed to take 25th place in a tough field.

Perennial track and field powerhouse Georgetown successfully defended its 2000 ECAC team title by scoring '7 points.

The Hoyas took the 2001 championships on the strength of placing five runners in both the '00 and 3000 and winning the 4x400 and 4x'00 relays.

And while the Hoyas may still be out of the Red and Blue's reach, that's not to say that Penn won't improve over the next couple of years.

"The future is bright," Siebert-Johnson said. "Although we are losing key seniors in all the events, the freshman class will be mature, and our leadership from the juniors will be great.

"I am very excited for next year, because it looks like we will be strong all around."

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