Although the men and women's track and field teams weren't able to spend their spring breaks in warm Arkansas weather, the Quakers did manage to bring back a few souvenirs from Boston.
Despite falling just shy of NCAA qualifying marks that would have let them compete in Fayateville, Ark., several athletes set personal bests and even finished first in the ECAC and IC4A Championships that took place in Massachusetts the first weekend of March.
"We wanted to go to nationals, but we didn't have everyone in every event, so that hurt us a bit," women's coach Gwen Harris said of her team's performance at the ECACs. "We ran well, though, and there's nothing more I can say."
Junior Tim Kaijala, who had a strong shot at heading to Arkansas for the NCAA Championships last weekend, took first in his 800 meter event at the IC4As. Though he shaved two seconds off of his preliminary time with a 1:50.69, his finish was not enough to send him south.
Junior Stacy Kim of the women's team also excelled in her mile run, improving on her personal best to 4:50.13. The NCAA time of 4:48 prevented her from qualifying, however.
The women's team also set two NCAA provisional marks at the ECACs, one each in the 800m and the distance medley relay. Junior Jesse Carlin set her mark with a 2:08.48 in the 800m; Jesse was joined by sophomore Kinjal Parikh, junior Shaunee Morgan and Kim for a 11:26.92 in the medley. Parikh had subbed in for senior Tina Morrison, a starting medley competitor who has been on injured reserve for the past month or so.
The men's team also brought strong competition to Boston in the distance relays. Freshman Kevin Kiley, senior Cody Schovitz, sophomore Chris Howell, and junior John Guzman qualified for the finals in the 4x800m with a time of 7:40.81.
Harris was quite adamant that her team is still among the best despite the injuries that have thrown them some setbacks.
"I think the girls did a great job after Heps. We went to ECACs hoping to run the best that we can run, and I think that we did," she said.
Harris' excitement for the spring season could only reflect the confidence she has in her girls.
"This is really going to make us hungry for outdoors."
And with a season like this, these Quakers must be ravenous.
