By Neil Riley

Sports Editor

While both the men’s and women’s track and field teams hosted their final meet before the NCAC Championships, Aedin Brennan ‘16 and Jessica Nix ‘18 travelled to the NCAC Combined Events Championship, looking to out-jump, out-shoot and out-run their conference competition.

The week began on April 24 with the Denison Invitational, where the women’s squad won five events: shot put, discus, pole vault, high jump and the 1,500 meter run. 

Allison Pineault ‘18, who tied the DU school pole vault with a 10’6” clearance, was surprised by the improvements she has made since the beginning of the season.

“I’m really happy with my progress, it’s been a great experience for me,” Pineault said. “I started pole vaulting last spring as kind of a last minute decision, because I wanted to try something new and challenging. I didn’t really expect it to go anywhere, but I’m really glad that I continued in college.”

The youngest members of the team were among the most successful participants in the Invitational.  Arlesha Cospy ‘18 and Hannah Hall ‘18 joined Pineault with victories in the shot put and discus, and the high jump, respectively.

Pineault was especially proud of the overall team’s development over the past few months.

“I think we’ve come a long way,” Pineault said.

“It’s weird to think back to our first meet in December when we were just getting back into the swing of things compared to where everyone is now. The team has worked so hard and it’s great to see people improve, even if it’s just a little at a time, each week.”

The next day in Oberlin, Brennan took away her sixth consecutive NCAC Combined Events Championship and her third straight heptathlon victory.

She won four of the seven events and took second place in the other three on her way to a dominating 4,850 point victory. The four first place finishes were in the shot put, 200 meter dash, long jump and the javelin throw.

Nix joined Brennan at the Championships and finished sixth.  The underclassman’s best finish was in the high jump with a 4’6.25” mark.

The Big Red will return to action on May 1 in Delaware, Ohio at the NCAC Championships.